Dwight R. Williams Named Gold Kist 2004 Producer of the Year
Even with the most modern technology at his fingertips, Gold Kist 2004 Producer
of the Year Dwight R. Williams of Boaz, AL, says a five-gallon bucket is his
best management tool.
Williams uses his bucket to sit on while he observes his chicken and “listens”
to what their actions tell him. It’s this attention to detail, along with
his impressive performance record as a Gold Kist Northeast Alabama Division
broiler producer and his determination to always produce a top quality product
that led to his selection as this year’s Producer of the Year Award recipient.
Gold Kist President and CEO John Bekkers presented Williams the award last night
at the Gold Kist Producer Appreciation Dinner at Snead State College in Boaz.
Nominations were submitted from each of the nine Gold Kist divisions that combined
have more than 2,300 poultry producers. The criteria for the award included
performance in the producer’s division, involvement in the community,
excellence in environmental management and their support and advocacy of Gold
Kist.
“A large part of Gold Kist’s success depends on the performance
of our contract producers,” said Bekkers. “We are presenting this
award to recognize exemplary performance by a producer. It’s through the
consistently high performance and the positive attitude of producers like the
Dwight Williams that Gold Kist is able to thrive in this highly competitive
industry.”
“Dwight Williams is extremely professional. He treats his operation like
the business it is and is always looking for ways to improve his production
and the profitability of his operation. Dwight is a strong family man and an
outstanding member of the community. I am proud to be associated with him and
proud to have him as part of our team,” said Wendell Shelton, Gold Kist
Northeast Alabama Division Manager.
After retiring from a career in vocational education, Williams decided to add
broiler operations to his crop and cattle enterprise. When looking for a company
to contract with, he naturally went to Gold Kist, since his mother was one of
the first employees at the company’s Boaz plant. Williams also had worked
there while attending Snead State College and had received a scholarship from
Gold Kist, which helped pay for his continued education at Auburn University.
Williams’s operations include four 40 x 500 broiler houses which produce
more than 500,000 of chickens a year for Gold Kist. Along with this company-wide
honor, he also received the Northeast Alabama Division’s Top Big Bird
Producer Award for 2004.
He also has received an award for “Outstanding Conservation” from
the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District. Williams is a member
of the Golden Heights Baptist Church, the Marshall County Cattleman’s
and Poultry Associations, the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, the Auburn
Ag Alumni Association, Alabama Education Association and Alabama Vocational
Association. He is a former vice president of the Gold Kist Division Patron
Council and is a past director of the Southern States store in Boaz.
Williams received a $1,000 cash award and a glass sculpture created especially
for this recognition by the famous glass sculptor, Hans-Godo Frabel of Atlanta.
A sign will be erected at his farm proclaiming him as the Gold Kist 2004 Producer
of the Year.