CANDOR – Mountaire Farms recently hosted its annual Top Grower Banquet in the West End to honor family farmers who are the superstars of livestock production.
With more than 500 contract farmers in 17 North Carolina counties, this event honored all of the hardworking men and women who help Mountaire feed the world.
The company awarded the “Top Grower†award to farmers who consistently outperform all others. Six are selected by the breeders who raise chickens for the company’s Lumber Bridge processing facility and six are selected by the breeders who raise chickens for the company’s Siler City processing facility.
Top Breeders for Mountaire in 2021 include:
– Terry & Sally Farm, owned by Terry Locklear, based in Robeson County, who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since August 2005.
– Clucka Berry Farm owned by Richard Barry in Dillon County, South Carolina who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since September 2019.
– Jerusalem Farm, owned by Colon Roberts, based in Bladen County, who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since August 2006.
– Foghorn Farm owned by Kendrick Eason in Bladen County who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since August 2015.
– Smyrna Farm, owned by Wang Xiong, based in Scotland County, who has been a contract grower of Mountaire Farms since October 2007.
– Bethlehem Farm, owned by Colon Roberts, in Bladen County, who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since November 2018.
– Valley View Farm owned by Richard Craig Macon in Randolph County who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since March 2012.
– Pat Street Farm, owned by Pat Street in Chatham County who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since July 1989.
– Tony Harris Farm, owned by Moore County-based Tony Harris who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since March 2022.
– Hillside Roost Farm owned by Justin Brooks in Chatham County who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since July 2013.
– Asbill Farm owned by Darren Asbill in Randolph County who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since June 2016.
– Jay Simpson Farm, owned by Jay Simpson, based in Randolph County, who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since June 1996.
The company also presented an Environmental Stewardship Award to a Robeson County farmer for promoting sustainable practices and conserving natural resources. This year’s winner was Shu Zhen Zheng from Song Farm, who has been growing at Mountaire since September 2019. Jackie Lou accepted the award on behalf of Zheng. Zheng invested $ 4.5 million in 8,000 solar panels on 4 acres of land, which should cover all of the farm’s electricity bills through summer 2022.
“Some growers just get it, and Mr. Zheng is one of those growers,” said Jim Shepard, vice president of live operations at Mountaire Farms. “He proves that renewable energy is a viable option for poultry farmers and his attention to detail on his farm is exemplary. He works hard to maintain the roads on his property so that his land not only looks good, but is also safer for our feed suppliers. “
The Mountaire Ambassador Award goes to the contract farmer who has done an excellent job promoting the culture of Mountaire Farms within the community. This year’s award went to Russell and Charles Caudill, co-owners of the C&R Caudill Farm. The Caudhills have been Mountaire’s growers for 34 years. He mentors many other farmers in the area and works closely with the U.S. military at Fort Bragg.
“There is no better cheerleader for Mountaire in the community and we are blessed to have him on our team,” said Mirande. “His years of knowledge and experience are an invaluable resource for other growers in his community.”
The company also honors those breeders who have made the most improvements and have shown their commitment to become a better poultry farmer.
This year’s Most Improved Breeders include:
– Bonnie’s Poultry, Lacy Cummings, Robeson County, who has been a contract breeder for Mountaire Farms since September 2005.
– SK Farm, Steve Nguyen, Scotland County, who has been a contract farmer for Mountaire Farms since July 2018.
– Triple C Farm, Travis Cox, Randolph County, who has been a contract grower for Mountaire Farms since May 2012.
– Southern Pride, Sheila McInnis, Richmond County, who has been a contract grower since February 2011.
– Cherokee 1, Charles Smith, Hoke County, which has been a contract grower since September 2003.
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