Two Leading Turkey Hatchery Owners Receive NTF Lifetime Achievement Award
Ted Huisinga and Ray Norling of Willmar Poultry Company Receive NTF Honors
Tucson, Ariz., February 10, 2007 -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Sherrie Rosenblatt, National Turkey Federation
202-898-0100 ext. 227, srosenblatt@turkeyfed.org
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) honored Ted Huisinga and Ray Norling from Willmar Poultry Company in Willmar, Minn., with the NTF Lifetime Achievement Award.
Presented here during the NTF Annual Convention, these industry leaders received the award for their long-term, unselfish dedication to creative innovation in turkey production. The award includes an honorary lifetime NTF membership and they become directors emeritus of the federation.
In presenting the award, Steve Olson, executive director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, said, “Ted and Ray built Willmar Poultry Company into the world’s leading turkey hatchery. Their success has been achieved through innovation, technology and visionary management.”
In 1945, Norling’s father and Huisinga’s uncle started Willmar Poultry. The business has grown to include 18 subsidiary businesses. Each business arose directly from Huisinga’s and Norling’s involvement in the turkey industry.
Huisinga’s achievements include providing state and national leadership on turkey health issues. For more than 35 years, he has been involved with the National Poultry Improvement Plan and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, which has led to the implementation of model disease prevention, surveillance and response programs.
Norling’s achievements stem from his business expertise, most recently handling a variety of organizational matters for the company subsidiaries.
Today, Willmar Poultry Company produces 45 million eggs and hatches 30 million poults. Nova-tech and Epitopoix are sister organizations that created cutting-edge technology for vaccinating and poult processing. With the formation of Life-Science Innovations as an umbrella organization for their business units, these Lifetime Award winners have built upon their technological innovations by creating a unique vehicle to attract talent and guide the future development of the biotechnology, genetics, engineering and agricultural industries.
NTF initiated its Lifetime Achievement Award program by awarding three honorary life memberships at its 1946 Annual Convention. Since that time, 59 recipients have been recognized with this honor. Past recipients include turkey industry leaders, executives of national and state poultry/turkey organizations, allied industry leaders, government officials, university professors, researchers and journalists. Recipients are recognized for their long-term, unselfish commitment to the turkey industry and to their organizations.
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) is the national advocate for all segments of the turkey industry, providing services and conducting activities that increase demand for its members' products by protecting and enhancing their ability to profitably provide wholesome, high-quality, nutritious products. Its award-winning web site, www.eatturkey.com, offers consumers, food professionals and the media an extensive library of information including healthy eating and restaurant trends, turkey cuts and purchasing tips, turkey nutrition and cooking techniques, and turkey facts and trivia. Additionally, the site presents a searchable database of more than 1,500 recipes, offers a recipe E-mail program and provides special seasonal and holiday ideas. The National Turkey Federation is headquartered in Washington, D.C.