Delmarva Chicken Assn. Logo
Updated: June 28, 2022

Delmarva Chicken Association announced the recipients of its Outstanding Grower awards, honoring 12 farm families in Delmarva’s chicken community with recognition as exemplary farmers raising broiler   chickens. Each grower operates an independent, family-owned farm raising chickens under contract for one of Delmarva’s five chicken companies. There are more than 1,360 such chicken growers on Delmarva, each one an important part of the $4.2 billion chicken community.

“To be a chicken grower in 2021 was to roll with the punches. In a climate roiled by COVID-19,  avian influenza and the stirrings of inflation, chicken growers certainly dealt with adversity,” said Holly Porter, DCA’s executive director. “Growers came through for all the families, including mine, who depend on the chickens they raise. For this class of outstanding growers, earning recognition for their work in a year of challenge is a real feather in their caps. And when they share their everyday rewards and challenges with others, they help people who may never set foot on a farm understand how chickens are raised.”

 The following growers were honored (high-resolution photos of each are available on Flickr, and a video roll call of the Outstanding Growers is available on YouTube):

Gary & Pat Bennett Gary Bennett Farm Berlin, MD | Perdue Farms  

Brenda Cowgill | Brenda Cowgill Farm | Denton, MD | Amick Farms

Aaron Dennis |Carrs Creek Farm |Preston, MD | Perdue Farms

Ben & Kayla Dilworth | Beyla Farm | Greensboro, MD | Mountaire Farms

Robert & Susan Elliott | Elliott’s Chicks | Delmar, DE | Mountaire Farms

Aaron & Kathy Mast | Royal Oak Farm | Quantico, MD | Perdue Farms

Muhammad Parvez Ish Farm LLC Oak Hall, VA | Tyson

Alvin & Norma Warner | Warner Enterprises Inc. | Milford, DE | Coleman Natural Foods

Keith & Sandy Whaley | Three Jokers Farm | Hardscrabble, DE | Allen Harim

Marcus & Marcia Woodward | Gryffen’s Roost | Houston, DE | Mountaire Farms

Wan Ki Yu & Eun Young Yu |Cco Cco Farm | Laurel, DE | Mountaire Farms

John & Carol Zoch | Dixie Line Farm | Seaford, DE | Amick Farms

 The Outstanding Grower awards were presented during the Booster BBQ, an annual event for DCA members and invited guests at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. More than 800 DCA members and  others in the chicken community attended the event, which featured barbecued chicken prepared and served by Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company and Harrington Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, ice cream from Vanderwende’s, door prizes, more than 40 vendors, and a musical performance by the Jones Boys.

 The growers received silver Revere bowls and were recognized on stage at the Booster BBQ. They also received lane signs that can be displayed at the   entrances to their farms acknowledging them as outstanding poultry producers.

 Other Award Recipients: 

 The J. Frank Gordy, Sr. Delmarva Distinguished Citizen Award to Steve Schwalb

 The Edward H. Ralph Medal of Achievement to Ron Darnell

 The DCA Medal of Achievement to Maryland Governor,  Larry Hogan

 

For more information, visit dcachicken.com; like DCA on Facebook; and follow us on Twitter and YouTube.
Contact: James Fisher, communications manager, 302-856-9037 (work) or 302-500-2223 (cell).

 Back to Commercial Poultry News - July 2022