About the Mississippi Poultry Association

Poultry is Mississippi’s largest agricultural industry, and the Mississippi Poultry Association represents all aspects of the industry.

Mississippi has 50 processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills, and egg farms, as well as 1,700 family-run poultry farms around the state. These businesses interact with banks, real estate firms, insurance agencies, farm supply stores, grain farmers, and plant and poultry house equipment manufacturers – many of whom are allied members of the association.

Mississippi produces about 710 million birds per year, ranking it the sixth largest poultry producing state in the nation. Mississippi exports about 15-20% of its production to 65 countries around the globe.

Mississippi’s poultry industry and its employees pay an estimated $1.07 billion in federal taxes and $19.3 million in state and local taxes.

For more information about our industry or association, please look around our website or contact the MPA at 601-932-7560.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The following are members of the MPA Executive Committee and members who serve on other boards. (*Denotes members of the Executive Committee)

Chairman of the Board
Mack Walker*,
Tyson Foods, Inc.

Vice Chairman of the Board
Ed Fletcher*,
Koch Foods

Treasurer
Paul Billingsley*
Wayne-Sanderson Farms

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Bobby James*,
Amick Farms LLC

Past Chairman of the Board
Dr. Ryn Laster*
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.

Executive Committee Member at Large
Steve McLaurin*
Peco Foods, Inc.

President
Mark Leggett*,
MPA, Inc.

Chairman of the Grower Advisory Committee
Kevin Rhodes
Koch Foods

Board of Animal Health

Vacant

NCC Leader
Clay Adkins
International Paper

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
Clay Adkins
International Paper

Executive Committee Member at Large
James Faison
Mar-Jac Poultry MS

DIRECTORS

2022-2024

Anthony DeLee, Peco Foods, Inc.

Scott McKinnon, Tyson Foods, Inc.

Vacant, Grower, Tyson Foods, Inc.

James Faison, Mar-Jac Poultry MS, LLC

2023-2025

Teresa Dunlap, Amick Farms, LLC

Allen Magee, Tyson Foods, Inc.

Peter McKinley, Grower, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Inc.

2024-2026

Chuck Bell, Peco Foods, Inc.

Clay Adkins, International Paper

Vacant, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Inc.

Ken Upton, Grower, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Inc.

Advisory Board

Henry Welch, retired from Peco Foods, Inc.

Dr. Wallace Morgan, Retired, Poultry Science Head, Mississippi State University

Jimbo Harvey, Tyson Foods

Ex-Officio Members

Dr. Keith Coble, Vice President of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University

Dr. Scott Willard, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences & Director of the Miss. Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Stations

Dr. Kenneth Macklin, Head of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University

Dr. James Watson, State Veterinarian, Director, State Board of Animal Health

Andy Gipson, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Commerce

Dr. Kent Hoblet, Dean, MSU, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University

GROWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The following members serve on the Grower Advisory Committee for the Mississippi Poultry Association.

Sean McDonald
Amick Farms

Matthew Anglin
Amick Farms

Jobie Evans
Amick Farms

Billy Hyatt
Amick Farms

Danny & Charlotte Madison
Amick Farms

Stan Norwood
Amick Farms

Michelle Carter
Koch Foods

Brian Rhodes
Koch Foods

Kevin Rhodes
Chairman, MPA GAC
Koch Foods

Stanley Brewer
Mar-Jac Poultry

Jeren Ferguson
Mar-Jac Poultry

Danny Thornton
Peco Foods, Inc.

Ricky Boler
Peco Foods, Inc.

Tonia Caldwell
Peco Foods, Inc.

David & Alene Robinson
Peco Foods, Inc.

Jon Wilson
Peco Foods, Inc.

Todd Dupre
Tyson Foods, Inc.

Dwight Easterling
Tyson Foods, Inc.

Perry Feazell
Tyson Foods, Inc.

Kevin Shirk
Tyson Foods, Inc.

Alan Young
Tyson Foods, Inc.

Taylor Hickman
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Inc.

Peter McKinley
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Inc.

Ken Upton
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Inc.

HALL OF FAME

Each year the Mississippi Poultry Association recognizes a member who has provided outstanding support and service to the industry and association. Inductees into the MPA Hall of Fame are listed below.

2022
Pic Billingsley
Laurel
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, LLC

2019
Mark Hickman
Tuscaloosa, AL
Peco Foods

2017
Dr. Yvonne Vizzier-Thaxton
Jackson, MS
MFC Services, Marshall Durbin, Mississippi State University, Univ. of Ark.

2016
Danny Thornton
Carthage
Miss. Board of Animal Health, Miss. State University, Peco grower

2015
Henry Welch
Gordo, AL
Peco Foods

2014
Dr. Bruce Glick
Starkville
Miss. State University

2013
Dr. Robert Keirs
Starkville
Miss. State University

2012
Kenneth “Doc” Williams
Brandon
McCarty Farms, Choctaw Maid Farms, Tyson

2011
Coyt C. “Bud” West
Laurel
Sanderson Farms

2010
Dr. J. Paul Thaxton
Starkville
Miss. State University

2009
Van R. Bowman
Carthage
Choctaw Maid Farms, Green Acre Farms, Sanderson Farms, Peco grower

2007
Dr. Wallace Morgan
Starkville
Miss. State University

2004
Denny Hickman
Tuscaloosa, AL
Peco Foods

2003
Dr. Reagan Sadler
Sturgis
Miss.State University, Central Industries

2002
Joe Sanderson, Jr.
Laurel
Sanderson Farms

1995
Dr. Elbert Day
Starkville
Mississippi State University, consultant

1994
Marshall Durbin, Jr.
Birmingham, AL
Marshall Durbin, Jr.

1992
John M. Rogers, Sr.
Morton
B.C. Rogers

1990
Odell Johnson
Laurel
Sanderson Farms

1989
Jim Buck Ross
Pelahatchie
Miss. Dept. of Agriculture & Commerce

1988
Tom Sparks
Magee
McCarty Farms

1987
Tam Etheridge
Carthage
R&R Poultry Industries, Poultry Packers, Inc., Choctaw Maid Farms

1986
Joel E. Shipp
Jackson
Quaker Oats, Allied Mills, MPA

1985
Joseph Paul Yount
Brandon
Miss. State University, MPA

1984
Fred L. Gaddis
Forest
Gaddis Packing Co., Gaddis Farms, Inc., Gaddis Hatcheries, Inc., Gaddis Feed Mill, Little Princess Packing Plant

1982
Hugh Haralson, Jr.
Forest
Lady Forest Farms

1981
W.T. Tramel
Raleigh
Miss. Board of Animal Health

1980
Dr. Earl C. Walsh
Forest
Green Acre Farms

1979
Johnnie K. Jordan
Carthage
Arbor Acre Farms

1978
James E. Hill
Starkville
Miss. State University

1977
C.T. Ramzy
Carthage
R&R Milling, R&R Poultry Industries

1976
Fred R. Adams, Jr.
Jackson
Cal-Maine

1975
H.F. McCarty, Jr.
Magee
McCarty Farms

1974
Joe Frank Sanderson, Sr.
Laurel
Sanderson Farms

1973
Ray G. Purnell
Tupelo
Purnell’s Pride, Purnell’s Hatchery

1973
B.C. Rogers, Sr.
Morton
B.C. Rogers

STAFF

Mark Leggett

President

EMAIL

Lauren Fortenberry

Event Coordinator