AP&EA P.O. 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Address Service Requested
Board of Directors Officers Johnny Adcock, President, Woodland* Randall Ennis, Vice President, Huntsville* Dale Gambrill, Treasurer, Snead* Tim Esslinger, Secretary, Eufaula* Spence Jarnagin, Immediate Past President, Huntsville* Directors Ronnie Adrian, Collinsville George Attwood, Anniston Chris Carter, Guntersville Fred Cespedes, Hanceville Cory Early, Decatur Billy Gilley, Cullman Harold Hunt, Gadsden* Heath Loyd, Boaz David Massey, Montgomery Dennis Maze, Horton Todd McMahen, Dothan Dr. Shannon Morgan, Birmingham Mitchell Pate, Auburn Mike Pigg, Cullman John Pittard, Guntersville John Roberts, Cullman Kenneth Sanders, Brundidge* Roddy Sanders, Gordo Jason Shell, Gadsden Jack Sherwood, Troy Jason Spann, Hanceville Ken Taylor, Anniston Ben Thompson, Huntsville David Thompson, Ashland Stanley Usery, Athens Scott Varner, Russellville Ricky Walker, Snead Craig Williams, Enterprise Advisors Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery Perry Oakes, Auburn *Executive Committee Members
AP&EA StAff Johnny Adams – Executive Director Wanda H. Linker – Administrative Director Ray Hilburn – Membership Director Huck Carroll – Communications Director/Editor Jennifer Shell – Support Director Alabama Poultry Magazine is published by the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association 465 South Bainbridge Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: 334-265-2732 Fax: 334-265-0008 Send editorial and advertising correspondence to: Alabama Poultry Magazine Editor P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Advertising rates and closing dates available upon request. Editorial matter from sources outside AP&EA is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may or may not coincide with official AP&EA policy. Publication does not necessarily imply endorsement by AP&EA.
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MES S AG E
PRESIDENT’S
Dear Friends, It is an honor to get to serve as your AP&EA president. I look forward to the year ahead. I am not sure what challenges the industry will face this year, but after working with the AP&EA for the past eight years, I am sure of this organization's desire and ability to help all levels of the industry continue to thrive. I think that the mission statement of the AP&EA is an accurate summation of the organization's purpose. That mission is "to serve the common interests of the Alabama poultry industry through promotion, education, communication, research and public affairs involvement." This mission will help all levels, from the grower, to the integrator, to the industry as a whole. Basically, the AP&EA works toward achieving this through an executive board and a staff. The board is composed of growers, integrators, and allied industry representatives. There are also board advisors from the State Department of Agriculture and Industries, Auburn University departments of poultry science and biosystems engineering, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, NRCS, and the Alabama Department of Education. The staff consists of Johnny Adams, Wanda Linker, Huck Carroll, Ray Hilburn, and Jennifer Shell. These five people very efficiently facilitate all the coordination, communication, education, and fund-raising for the board and other components of the organization and industry. This small staff manages to run an organization that represents thousands of people. The leadership that Johnny Adams, our executive director, provides in the political arena is another real plus for our industry. We are very blessed to have such capable and dedicated people working for us. As a grower for over 25 years, I have realized the value of having an organization to represent me. A lone voice is often ignored in political and economic arenas, making it difficult to achieve change. The Alabama Poultry and Egg Association has consistently provided a uniting voice that has helped us all work together for many years, making our industry much stronger.
Featuring This Issue Association News
pg.
Growing Up Hilburn
pg. 10
Annual Meeting
pg. 12
Poultryman In Chief: Johnny Adcock
pg. 18
Member News
pg. 22
Auburn Happenings
pg. 24
Practical Applications
pg. 26
Calendar of Events
pg. 30
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Association News
Scholarship winners: Melia Millican, Albertville; Erica Lemaster, Asbury; Heather Wright, Union Grove; Savannah Hilley, Boaz; Austin Harvey, Boaz; Bronson Edmonds, Brindlee Mountain; Heather Burks, Douglas; and Kitty Burks, Douglas. Not present, Jessica Bynum, Douglas. Lydia Beth and her dad, Wade Adams, are all set to enjoy some good eating.
Jason and Jennifer Plunkett took home the Gator this year.
Marshall County Holds Annual Meeting GUNtERSVILLE – Poultry pros from all over Marshall County gathered once again on Friday night, Aug. 3, at Civitan Park on the shore of beautiful Lake Guntersville to celebrate the Marshall County Poultry & Egg Association annual meeting. After the customary barbecued chicken supper, the program began with Dwight Williams as master of ceremonies. The program speaker was Marshall County NRCS Conservationist Shawn Manning who spoke on handling storm water runoff. AP&EA Membership Director Ray Hilburn also announced the upcoming grower seminars. Every year Marshall County Poultry & Egg Association sells raffle tickets for a John Deere Gator in order to raise money for scholarships for the children of Marshall County poultry growers. This year, nine deserving young people benefitted from those ticket sales. Each received a $500 scholarship to attend the school of their choice. Several of the kids have received these scholarships previously. Congratulations!
Bobcat of Oxford Hosts Meeting
OXfORD – On Tuesday, Aug. 14, Kenneth Clark opened his Bobcat dealership to host a meeting for growers from Randolph, Clay, Cal-
houn, Cleburne, Cherokee, Etowah, Talladega and St. Clair Counties. The meeting, cosponsored by Bobcat of Oxford and Lee Energy, was well attended and there were a number of allied industry representative there as well. A catered meal was served. The purpose of the meeting was to inform growers from counties without associations of the benefits of county associations and to encourage association development.
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Waller Farm Features NPTC Demos CLAYtON – It was lights, generators and cool pads taking center stage as the poultry house gurus from the National Poultry Technology Center at Auburn University conducted a seminar at Craig Waller’s farm on Aug. 7, in Clayton. It also served as the quarterly meeting of the Southeast Alabama Poultry & Egg Association. Under overcast skies, the group heard poultry housing specialist Jess
Campbell talk about effective cooling system and pad maintenance, while Dennis Brothers showed participants the ins and outs of proper generator maintenance. Inside one of the houses, Gene Simpson, ACES ag economist, discussed lighting options and methods for cleaning poultry house lights. You can read about Gene’s methods for cleaning poultry house lights on page 28 of this magazine.
The seminar was divided into three groups of approximately 12 to 15 participants. Each group cycled between the three presenters at 20 minute intervals. Following the seminar, lunch was held in one of the houses and provided by K Supply. During lunch, the NPTC staff, including, Director Jim Donald, answered questions from all participants.
Stakeholders Meet to Discuss Koch Expansion Plans
Keith Martin, production manager with Koch Foods, Ashland, talks to the group.
MONtGOMERY – Alabama Poultry & Egg Association brought together stakeholders from regulatory agencies of the federal and state governments, along with representatives from banking and the poultry industry on Aug. 14, at the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to discuss Koch Foods
plans to expand their operation in east Alabama, around the Ashland area. The plan calls for building approximately 60 new 66’ x 600’ houses on 15 farm premises, with a cost of an estimated $450,000 each. Cost for each farm project would be around $1.8 million, with a total investment
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in just construction and equipment of approximately $27 million. A large majority of the gross income from these projects will be reinvested in the local economy and other agricultural projects. Lenders should expect to receive about $3 million per year in payback. About $120,000 per project per year would be paid back to local counties or municipalities for electricity, gas for heating, and water. This would total approximately $1.8 million for the entire 15 projects. Some of the other part of the gross income would be spent locally on farm vehicles, insurance, bedding materials for the houses, and other supplies. “This meeting marks the first time that all stakeholders have met to discuss these kinds of issues,” said AP&EA’s Ray Hilburn.
Donald and Willie at the Hilburn & Sons Farm in Luverne
Henry Hilburn paid his boys “21” a week. That wasn’t $21 a week; it was 21 meals, three a day, seven days a week. At first glance, it sounds harsh, but Huey, the oldest of the Hilburn boys says, “We had as much fun as any family I knew.” Of course with that “21” came a lot of love and a sense of worth. They learned to work hard and appreciate what they had. Henry could do everything. He was an electrician, a carpenter, and a mechanic. Huey says of his father, “Daddy could do more with an eighth grade education than most college graduates.” He was self-reliant and he passed that trait on to his boys. In 1959, A. A. Middleton, a former egg inspector for the state, approached Henry. He and two other investors wanted to try to develop a hatchery business. They would provide the equipment if Henry could provide the land and a building.
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Henry agreed, and, after some difficulty in securing a loan (most bankers considered poultry to be a backyard endeavor), construction began. With the beginning of the hatchery, known as “Deep South Chicks,” Henry shut down his table egg operation. The boys just shifted their area of work to the new hatchery. Huey soon departed for Auburn University. Huey had always wanted to go to Auburn, but poultry science was the last thing he wanted to go into. He just did not want to have to work seven days a week, so he majored in ag economics. However, in his junior year, with 37 elective hours to fill, he realized that poultry was what he knew best. “It just got in our blood, and we didn’t know anything but the chicken business,” he said. He graduated in the spring of 1964 with a double major of ag economics and poultry science. Three weeks after graduation, he went to work with Tony Harrell in Enterprise, servicing broilers. Tony Harrell had started in the feed business and had begun placing birds out to growers on contract. He was buying birds from Deep South Chicks, but felt that having his own hatchery would be beneficial. In early 1965, he bought Deep South
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Huey at home in Cullman
Chicks, with Henry keeping ownership of the equipment, building and land. Henry wanted to start a breeder operation, so Harrell loaned him $20,000 to build the breeder houses. The business, known as H&H Breeder Houses, became a division of Hilburn & Sons. It was so successful that by the end of the year, with their first crop of birds, the Hilburns paid off their loan. The expansion was just beginning.
Huey and Henry at the hatchery
Wanting to keep a stable supply of quality birds for the breeder operation, Henry purchased 67 acres in nearby Rutledge and built two pullet houses. That operation became Hilburn and Sons Poultry Farm. Henry built virtually all of the facility himself; however, it was Donald who caused the need for additional expansion. Donald, by this time a senior at Auburn, attended the Southeastern Poultry Expo in Atlanta and won a drawing for a house full of poultry equipment from Bramco Equipment in Canton, Ga. That necessitated the building of a third chicken house, this one, however, was a broiler house. Now Hilburn & Sons could raise pullets to stock their own breeder operation, provide eggs for their hatchery and raise broilers in their own house. Also, because of the success of Tony Harrell’s operation and the increased demand for chicks, the hatchery was expanded three times. Harrell was always appreciative of the Hilburns’ efforts. Henry’s home was next door to the hatchery. In fact, Henry had developed an alarm system that ran from the incubators to his bedroom wall. If an incubator failed during the night, the alarm would awaken Henry so that he could take corrective action. Harrell was a generous man who loved sports, and one day in the early fall of 1965, during the World Series, he dropped by to watch the game. According to Ray, who was just a small boy, the Hilburns had an old black and white TV that had terrible
Ronald at Wayne Farms Troy
reception. Harrell and Ray sat on the couch, talking baseball and trying to watch the game, as Melba made lunch. The next day, the man from the local appliance store showed up with a new color television, courtesy of Tony Harrell. Henry protested that they couldn’t accept such a gift, to which Harrell replied that it was an early Christmas bonus, and besides, if he was going to drop in to watch baseball, he wanted to watch it on a good TV. Henry, who had never had a Christmas bonus, was astounded, but they kept the television. In 1971, ConAgra Poultry bought out Tony Harrell. The Hilburns continued to grow for ConAgra. Willie was now assistant manager at the hatchery, with Ray and Ronald working there part-time as well. Melba was also keeping the books. Donald, after finishing Auburn, had started working with Herb Hannah at Hannah Poultry Supply, but in 1975, he came back to manage the farm. The following year Ronald graduated from Auburn and took a job with Country Pride in Gainesville, Ga. In 1978, Henry retired as manager of the hatchery and Willie took his place. That year, Ray graduated from Auburn with a poultry science degree and came to work as assistant manager at the hatchery. By this time, Huey had become breederhatchery manager for ConAgra in Enterprise, but later that year moved to Cullman as broiler manager with Spring Valley. In 1988, Henry Hilburn was inducted into the Alabama Poultry Hall of Fame and, in 1995, he passed away. Since his passing, there have been many changes in the Hilburn family, but through it all, the five brothers have remained close. Most Saturdays you can find them having lunch at Melba’s kitchen table in Luverne. Only Huey, who is retired and
A Son Looks at His Mother Ray Hilburn
Melba Hilburn is one of the most caring, giving individuals that I have ever known. She always puts everyone else first. Even now at 96 years old she will not sit down to eat, even though she has slaved over the stove for the last hour and a half cooking, until everyone else has been seated and been served. She is truly a servant. She certainly serves her Lord as she is very dedicated to her church, not missing a service very often. Even though she can no longer teach Sunday School or Vacation Bible School, she still will fix cookies or sandwiches for those classes. She never wants people to do things for her, she is always wanting to serve others even now at her age apologizing for not being able to do more for her family and friends. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful mother who has always been there for me and my boys and helped me so much in raising them and molding them into the fine young men they are today. She knows that God has blessed her with a wonderful life and I know that God has blessed me with a wonderful mother. She is certainly at peace and my family, the community and the world is a better place because Melba Hilburn has made such a difference in so many lives.
Continued on pg.30
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SANDEStIN BEACH RESORt – As usual, the beach was lovely and the weather was warm, okay, warm might be a little understated. It was, as July usually is, HOT. But that’s why you go to the beach, to have an excuse to wear beach stuff, right? Well, there was plenty of beach apparel present and lots of sand. There was no sand at the Sunday evening Welcome to the Beach get together for sponsors and Association board members. Those hormone and steroid infused (just kidding) shrimp were there in abundance, as well as other beach goodies. It was a great time to make new friendships and rekindle dormant ones. It was also a terrible time to be on a diet. As the breakfast plates were still clanking on Monday morning, Association President Spence Jarnagin called the business meeting to order. The first order of business was to announce that ticket sales for the “Evening of Fun” were the largest since 1995, with over 4,000 tickets sold. He also announced that registration for the annual meeting was up 35 percent from the previous year. Spence thanked the sponsors for their continued support of the Association and their participation in all of the Association’s events for the past year. He also graciously thanked the Executive Committee and the AP&EA staff for their support. Commissioner John McMillan spoke briefly on the continuing financial woes of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and announced problems with the Richard Beard office building that might require construction of a new building. He also announced a new “Irrigation Initiative.” Dr. Bill Batchelor, dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture, talked about projected budget shortfalls up to 2017. He said that they were anticipating cuts of 1 to 4 percent for the next several budget cycles. This is on top of the cuts since 2008 of 27 percent. This will affect the experiment stations and ACES, as well as the College. He had some good news to report: funding has been secured through the governor’s budget for the National Poultry Technology Center and that the new feed mill was scheduled to open in October. Dr. Batchelor was followed by Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems head, Dr. Gary Lemme, who announced the hiring of former AP&EA president Galen Grace as the new head of the 4-H development office. New Grower Committee Chairman Kenneth Sanders thanked AP&EA Membership Director Ray Hilburn for his help in getting the committee or-
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ganized. He also reported on efforts to establish new county and regional associations. Sanders was followed by Processor Committee Chairman Tim Esslinger, who announced the dates of the Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop and expressed his desire to see more line supervisors and mid-level managers in attendance. State veterinarian, Dr. Tony Frazier, reported that efforts were ongoing, despite budget cuts, to find a replacement for Dr. Fred Hoerr, as head of the state diagnostic lab. He said that several applications have been received. He reported that several cases of LT have been found in south Alabama in backyard flocks. These cases, however, were far away from any commercial growers. He reported also that work continues on the update of the avian influenza response plan. The update is due to the USDA by December 2012. This update is especially crucial to ensure that should something happen growers would be able to take advantage of any USDA indemnity program. The last part of his report focussed on the partnership between the Department of Agriculture and Industries and NRCS to offset QCP inspection fees for growers. The program will stop by the end of September when the funds are exhausted. Jim Donald gave the biosystem engineering department report. He said that it had been a good year for the NPTC and thanked Dean Batchelor for helping to secure funding. He reported continuing research into the efficacy of LED lighting systems. He also reported that, with 30 percent of growers implementing recommendations, in approximately 11,000 poultry houses, from the NPTC, a realization of approximately $30 million in grower savings. Dr. Don Conner, head of the department of poultry science, reported on the Hanceville Wallace State Community College 2 + 2 program. An introductory poultry science course is to be added to the curriculum with poultry science students brought to Auburn to acclimate them to the campus before they enroll. He gave credit to Fred Cespedes for helping to get the program moving. He also reported that construction on the feed mill had been completed and come in under budget. He said that they were waiting for the equipment to arrive. AP&EA Executive Director Johnny Adams gave the final report. He began by thanking Commissioner John McMillan for his outstanding leadership in tough economics times. Immigration reform was the first area of comment. He said that a reform immigration bill had been gutted in the Senate and resulten in no significant change to the law. The law continues to be reviewed by the courts. On the positive side, he observed that law enforcement was so underfunded as to prevent aggressive enforcement of the “stop and ask� provision of the law. He also spoke on CAFO registration funding. That afternoon, in the annual meeting, the election of officers for the coming year was held. Johnny Adcock of Woodland was elected Association president; Randall Ennis, vice president; Dale Gambrill, treasurer; and Tim Esslinger, secretary. Harold Hunt and Kenneth Sanders were also appointed to the Executive Committee at the board meeting that followed.
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Awards Banquet The silent auction was finished and the last morsel of Bananas Foster was being savored when Association President Spence Jarnagin opened the award presentation part of the banquet by warmly welcoming all assembled. He dutifully recognized all of the dignitaries present before introducing the Association Executive Committee. Jack Sherwood was presented the Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding leadership and financial planning in helping the Association in paying off the note on the AP&EA office building and property this year. The Presidential Award went to John Pittard, who was instrumental in starting the Alabama Poultry Growers 2011 Tornado Relief Fund and has chaired our fund-raising auctions for many years. Fred Cespedes, who, as vice president of American Proteins, is approaching retirement, received two special awards for career achievement. The first award was presented by Association President Spence Jarnagin on behalf of AP&EA. The second award, presented by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association President John Starkey and Larry Brown was in appreciation of Fred’s leadership on the board of directors of the Poultry Protein & Fat Council.
“Evening of Fun” Ticket Sales Awards The “Evening of Fun” ticket sales campaign is a gigantic undertaking that takes more than 300 salesmen contacting hundreds of prospects and selling thousands of tickets. This project generates nearly 60 percent of the Association’s operating funds. This year’s
The Top Salesman to Broiler Growers award, also known as the Rhonell Word Award went to Michael Green, Pilgrim’s Guntersville.
Teams Making Quota
Richard Lusk accepted award for the Allied Team.
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The Top Serviceman for Grower Sales to Breeder or Pullet Hen Growers for the 13th year in a row was Harold Robinson, Tyson Foods. The award has now been named in his honor.
campaign saw the largest ticket sales since 1996, with a total of 4,155 tickets sold. Executive Director Johnny Adams called out the names, while Johnny Adcock, chairman of this year’s ticket sales campaign, presented the awards
The Top Rookie Salesman Award The Top Salesman to New Ticket went to Robin Jones of Keystone Purchasers Award went to ConFoods, Eufaula. nie Bryant with Koch Foods, Ashland.
Team captain David Thompson Harold Hunt accepted the award Team captain Ronnie Junkin acaccepted for Koch Foods, Ash- for team captain Lisa Burdick of cepted for Peco Foods. land. Koch Foods, Gadsden.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Passing the Gavel
After five straight years of winning the Top Sales in $150 Tickets, Fred Cespedes relinquished his crown to Christie Stockberger of Keystone Foods in Eufaula. Perhaps Fred’s wall is overloaded with trophies now already, especially with the two special awards he just received. Sadly, Christie was not able to attend because of an illness in the family. With the end of the award ceremony, Association President Spence Jarnagin took to the podium for the This year, two Alabama Poultry Fraternity members reached the magic 15-year level and received their Fraternity watches, Dale Gambrill with Tyson Foods and Philip Drake with Keystone Foods.
The award for the team selling the most tickets is Tyson Foods in Snead. They also made their quota. Accepting the awards are team co-captains Chad Wiggs and Judy Dutton.
The award for top team based on percentage of quota sold is Keystone Foods, Eufaula, with 222 percent. Accepting the award is Ken Edwards on behalf of team captain Christie Stockberger.
last time as president. He again thanked everyone for their help in making it a good year. Then passing the gavel, he introduced new AP&EA President Johnny Adcock. Before leaving the stage, Spence received the bronze rooster, emblematic of a year of successful leadership as president. He also was presented a scrapbook marking the milestones of his administration and containing letters of commendation from many of Alabama’s elected officials and letters of congratulations from his peers. His wife, Wendy, as a token of the Association’s esteem was presented with a French easel to encourage her love of painting. New Association President Johnny Adcock, from Woodland in east Alabama, is a grower for Pilgrim’s. He spoke briefly, eschewing notes, with a message from his heart, with gracious words. “No matter what we face,” he said, “we have the people to help us through, and I want to be a part of that this year, to serve you.” (Read more about him in the following story.) Then it was time for the fun to begin. The silent auction results were announced and everyone got ready for the live auction. Then it was time for the wine and cigar raffle, followed by the live auction. Eric Killen of the Vincit Group, once again, provided a specially fabricated steel cooker that could be folded and carried to tailgating parties. Bud Holcomb of Cobb-Vantress provided a beautiful Amish handmade heirloom quality quilt. There were hunting trips, guns and vacations, with auctioneer Kent Stanford keeping the bidding brisk and exciting. At the end of the evening more than $29,000 had been raised to benefit the Association.
Pilgrim’s, Guntersville/Boaz, Cory Early accepted the award Chris Carter and Richard Stew- for Wayne Farms, Albertville, art accepted the award on behalf team captain Lana Gillis. of team captains Becky Arrington and Kathy Pitts.
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When David Massey to the tee box strode, there was fire in his eyes. And with a swing, the ball, gave wings o’er Baytowne’s links to fly. Epic was his gaze, and on this day, none could withstand his might. Happy warrior he, and noble-free, his stout-hearted band did lead. Brave and true, they saw it through – and won the victory! Now, when golfers to the links must go, and toil for glory’s sake, when slices come and putts won’t drop and all against them shout – let them in their hearts take pride – Mighty Massey has won out! Epic poetry, not withstanding, it was a great day for golf and everyone seemed to have a terrific time on the beautiful Baytowne Golf Course.
1st Place team Ben Munday Jeramie Martin David Massey Grant Massey
2nd Place team Ben thompson tim Esslinger Bob Cryar George Attwood
3rd Place team John Pittard Craig Williams Matthew Herman Chad Wiggs Closest to the hole: Kevin Slaughter Richard Lusk
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Poultryman in Chief: Johnny Adcock takes charge One day in late 1982, two young men, fraternity brothers in fact, met by chance on Highway 147 just outside Auburn. They parked and talked for a while. Both had just broken up with girlfriends and neither was sure what paths their lives would take. Coincidentally, they were both named Johnny and neither of them had ever considered the poultry business. Thirty years later, one is president of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and the other is the executive director. Life takes some funny turns. Newly-elected AP&EA President Johnny Adcock did not grow up in the poultry business. His family lived in Roanoke, where his dad owned a grocery store. They had a few head of cattle, but they hardly considered themselves farmers. Still, Johnny wanted to work in agriculture, that’s why he pursued a degree in agricultural economics, first for two years at Southern Union College in Wadley and then finishing his degree at Auburn University in the spring of 1982.
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Johnny and Maricile Adcock have a lot to smile about. They both love what they are doing and have three great kids and a beautiful home. The poultry business has been very good to them
He first took a job in Dothan selling agricultural chemicals. That job lasted about a year, in fact that was what he was doing when he ran into Johnny Adams on Highway 147. But, he really didn’t like to travel all that much, so he left that job and moved in with his brother, a high school coach at Handley, back in Roanoke. And, after a little bumping around, he got a job with a gas pipeline company. Now, the story goes, Roanoke had a couple of hot football prospects who were being recruited by several colleges. Johnny’s brother wanted to get them down to Auburn for a recruiting weekend, but had another commitment, so he asked Johnny to take them down. That was okay with Johnny; he’d planned on going down anyway. With the two recruits in tow, he arrived at the designated spot where all the recruits were gathered. One of the recruits’ hostesses for their visit was a pretty Auburn Tigerette, whom Johnny knew, though not very
Alabama Poultry Magazine
well. Her name was Maricile Yates and she was from another small Randolph County town close to Roanoke, Woodland. She had to walk past him several times to get soft drinks for the recruits, and he remembers thinking that if she walked by once more he would reintroduce himself. Once more she walked by and the next weekend they went on their first date. The Roanoke recruits decided to go elsewhere to college, although, Maricile says they were not really her recruits. Johnny, on the other hand, knew a good thing and soon made a binding commitment. Maricile, a junior at Auburn, had started majoring in mechanical engineering and math, but had changed to an English major. Because she needed to catch up on her required reading for her new major, whenever she and Johnny would drive up from Auburn to visit either her parents in Woodland or his parents in Roanoke, she would spend the time reading while he drove. Johnny would often drive the 55 miles from Roanoke to spend the evening with her while she studied. He remembers always leaving at the end of the Andy Griffith Show at about 10:30 and driving back to Roanoke. It was during this time that Johnny got his first taste of chicken farming, by working in the chicken houses and helping with the cattle on weekends and afternoons with Maricile’s father, Bob Yates, who had four chicken houses. Shortly after Maricile’s graduation, they were married. Johnny worked for the gas pipeline company and Maricile got a job teaching school just across the Georgia state line in Bowdon. He also continued helping Mr. Yates on the farm. They lived in a house on her father’s property in Woodland. It had been a rental house, but her father had given it to them as a wedding gift. Unfortunately, it had not been well treated by the previous tenants and it took quite a bit of work to get it in livable condition. Fortunately they had lots of friends to help with the work. In 1985, due to some health problems, Maricile’s father asked Johnny if he would like to take over management of the Yates’ farm. It was a hard decision. Johnny was doing well in his job, but he wanted to farm and this was a great opportunity. Maricile was not quite as excited as Johnny. She still remembered the night of her coronation as Miss Woodland when she came home with evening gown and tiara, only to have to quickly change into grubby clothes, because of a problem in one of the chicken houses. She says, “Every time you got ready to go on vacation, something would happen in one of the houses. Every time you had something important to do, something would come up and you’d have to scramble to make it to where
Vacation time for a poultry grower is a precious thing. This year, at the AP&EA annual meeting, Johnny and Maricile were able to get all the kids together for a trip to the beach. (Left to right) Anna, a recent Auburn grad, will be starting law school in the fall; John-Wes, a junior at Woodland High School and a quarterback on the football team, will have his mother as a teacher this year; and Abbie, a junior at Auburn studying poultry science.
you were going. I decided there had to be an easier way.” But, life does take some funny turns. But the decision was made and Johnny Adcock became a farmer. Maricile continued to teach. Everything changed, however, with the birth of their first child, Anna. Maricile became a stay-at-home mother and more involved with the farm. She reentered the teaching ranks when, John-Wes, their third child, entered school, accepting a position as an elementary teacher in Woodland. These days she teaches English for juniors and seniors at Woodland High School. John-Wes is somewhat ambivalent about having his mother as a teacher. All three of the Adcock children are athletic. Anna was a cheerleader and dancer; Abbie played basketball, softball and cheered; and John-Wes is an all around athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball. Watching their kids play sports has provided the bulk of their recreation. That, and, as Maricile says
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Maricile, Johnny, Abbie and Anna at last year’s Auburn Ag Scholarship Presentation Ceremony, where both girls received scholarships.
In 1995, the Adcocks were named Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year. By that time, they had added six more houses to bring their total to 10 chicken houses. Back then Johnny managed the farm for his father-in-law, he has since purchased the farming operation, and raises cattle as well as chickens. He hopes that one of his three kids will want to take over the business one day.
“moving kids’ apartments around in Auburn.” Their church is very important to the family. When they were first married, they attended Maricile’s church in Woodland and Johnny became the youth leader.
Maricile says one of the reasons she was attracted to Johnny was because of his deep Christian faith. In their 10 houses, the Adcocks grow chickens for Pilgrim’s of Carrollton, Ga. Their houses are older, but because they grow a smaller bird, they have not needed to upgrade to solid sidewall houses. Johnny credits former Association president Ken Taylor with getting him involved in Association leadership when Ken was chairman of the Grower Committee. Later, when Ken became Association treasurer, Johnny took over the chairmanship of the Grower Committee. Although, he has no stated agenda, he wants to ensure that growers have a strong voice in the Association. “Growers sometime question what the Association is doing for them, I want to make sure they have an answer to that question.” Welcome, Johnny Adcock, as president of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association!
“Many times, I think, the farmer feels overlooked. Having a grower as president of the Association lets them know that their voice is being heard in the Association.” Johnny Adcock
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Membership News
Durbin Opens New Hatchery in Moulton
After months of renovation, the Marshall Durbin hatchery in Moulton is open for business.
MOULtON – Marshal Durbin Companies has opened their new hatchery in Moulton. The hatchery, purchased from Pilgrim’s and idle for over a year, underwent extensive renovations before the first eggs were set on April 30.
Marshall Durbin employees from Mississippi and Alabama locations came together to celebrate the opening.
The facility, which replaces two Marshall Durbin hatcheries in Haleyville and Chatom, will set approximately 1,330,560 eggs a week, according to hatchery manager Chuck Parker.
The new 40,000 sq. ft. hatchery will allow Marshall Durbin to supply chicks to their 78 contract growers in and around Hackleburg more efficiently and more economically. The new facility will employ 31.
Aviagen Names Mack as VP of Operations for N. America
HUNtSVILLE – Aviagen has announced the promotion of Jason Mack to vice president of operations for North America. Jason will report Jason Mack directly to Aviagen President Ben Thompson and will be responsible for the implementation of programs to improve biological performance through interaction with hatchery and breeder operations. In addition, Jason will monitor hatchery and production operation efficiencies, as well as an active participation with quality assurance in establishing programs and corrective actions to maintain chick quality standards. Working closely with production planning, Jason will work to ensure adequate supply of product, and along with veterinary services, R&D, and technical service, his focus will be on bird health and biological performance. “Having someone with Jason’s experience is truly an asset to the Aviagen team and to our customers. He understands the business and our
customers’ needs and is committed to achieving the performance required for our mutual success,” said Ben Thompson, president, Aviagen, Inc.
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Jason earned his poultry science degree from Auburn University in 1998 and has been with Aviagen since April of that year.
Auburn Happenings
Ray Hilburn with Richelle Thomas, an incoming freshman, who is the recipient of the Henry and Melba Hilburn Scholarship. She is from Luverne.
On Aug. 18, the Auburn University College of Agriculture held their annual Scholarship Recognition Program. Poultry science students received $116,800 in scholarships. According to student recruiter, Codi Plaster, there are currently 40 poultry science students, or approximately 75 percent of the students in the de- Ray Hilburn (left) and Dr. Bill Batchelor (right) with students receiving AP&EA and APF scholarships. partment, on scholarship.
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Practical Applications
J.B. Hess, W.D. Berry, J.P. Blake and K.S. Macklin, Auburn University Poultry Science Department
Growers have long understood the importance of good litter management for top broiler performance. Increased reuse of litter in built-up systems has focused more attention on managing litter carefully to benefit bird health and performance. Increases in the price of paws and their use as an indicator of animal welfare has, likewise, increased the importance of litter management in producing the best bird for the processing plant. The advent of chemical and microbiological litter treatments to help reduce ammonia production in litter has added an important tool to aid growers in providing fresh air to young birds without the debilitating effects of ammonia. Once the birds are older, increased ventilation allows moisture and ammonia removal with less need for added ammonia control from a litter amendment (although a case can be made for extended ammonia control for bird health and performance). In general though, litter treatments have found their place in starting birds off on a healthy foot by controlling early ammonia levels. One area of ammonia control that has garnered less discussion in recent years has been feedthrough products. In the 1970s, feed through larvicides to help reduce house fly populations became very popular (particularly with commercial table egg producers). Many don’t remember that others were researching feed-through products that helped lower ammonia levels in the manure and litter. Many of those products are on the market today and feed-related additives may help maintain house con-
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Alabama
ditions as part of an integrated program of litter management. Natural mineral compounds called zeolites have been tested as feed-throughs to reduce farm ammonia and other odors with mixed results. This may be because there are a large number of zeolite products with differing abilities to trap molecules. Some zeolites, however, have been used in programs to decrease ammonia output. In research with commercial egg layers, poultry scientists in the Midwest reformulated layer feeds with less protein and added a zeolite product (one percent of the feed) to create a feed designed to reduce ammonia levels in the manure (Figure 1). Ammonia levels were reduced 38 percent in young hens and 45 percent later in the egg production cycle in hens fed the odor-reducing feed containing zeolite. Recent products tested have shown reasonable feed inclusion rates (earlier research with zeolites used 5-10 percent inclusion) and these products may find a place in ammonia reduction programs. One of the most commonly used feed-through ammonia control products of the last several decades is saponnins derived from the yucca shidigera plant. In addition to showing health benefits in birds and mammals, yucca shidigera products have reduced ammonia generation of manure produced from animals fed these products at low levels (Figures 2, 3). A broiler trial with 1/3 lb/ton yucca shidigera fed in all feeds showed an approximately 40 percent reduction in the amount of ammonia
odors (Figure 3) even though ammonia levels were relatively low to begin with. Recent research in Dr. Wallace Berry’s lab at Auburn has studied an elemental sulfur product in commercial layers. Not only does the sulfur product, when fed at relatively low inclusion levels (1–5 lb/ton), show promise as a GRAS mite control agent, but ammonia levels were reduced substantially (4060 percent) from the manure produced from the hens on test (Figure 4). It remains to be seen whether the ammonia reduction effects are similar in broiler breeders and broilers, but the biochemistry involved would indicate that this may be the case. Given this, elemental sulfur may be another possibility to enhance ammonia control with a feedthrough product. Feed through products, on their own, are unlikely to be the total answer to ammonia control in poultry production. Grower litter management for dry litter will still amount to 80 percent of the equation in keeping ammonia production low, but both conventional litter amendments and feed-through ammonia control products may add to our ability to keep house ammonia levels low for improved bird health and worker safety.
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So, it’s not rocket science, but it could save you some money! Spiral compact f luorescent bulbs have been an effective choice for growers looking to tap into the cost saving benefits of replacing incandescent bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs. However, one of the resulting problems growers face is the dust and debris collection inherent with these bulbs. It has been said that “there is no easy way to clean them.” The National Poultry Technology Center has recently done some testing on a simple method that proves to be effective at cleaning these bulbs. Growers can take any handheld garden sprayer similar to the one pic-
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tured, fill it with water mixed with a mild, inexpensive cleaner, like household ammonia or window cleaner, and easily wash individual bulbs. The use of the sprayer allows growers to do this from the floor of the house. It does not take much pressure to clean the bulbs so any pump-up sprayer will work. The cleaner mixture does not need to be strong – a roughly 10-1 ratio of water to cleaner is sufficient. Straight water has proven to work in some cases but the most caked up bulbs do benefit from some cleaner additive. Shown in the photos are actual bulbs before and after this sprayer method was used. The actual spray procedure takes no longer than a few seconds per bulb. At that rate, a grower could clean an entire house of 52 grow lights and 13 brood lights in less than an hour. NPTC light output studies have shown that by cleaning only
Alabama Poultry Magazine
one flock’s dust from these bulbs with this cleaning procedure, growers can potentially increase light output by 15 percent or more. The dirtier the bulbs are, the more increase in light growers stand to gain. This cleaning procedure has shown to be beneficial to many of the emerging LED lights hitting the market, as well. Dust and debris can not only cloud their light emitting surfaces, but can also clog their heat dispersing fins – causing heat retention and thus shortening their life.
Some caution must be taken – this should be done when the light circuits are off, and try to avoid getting spray into keyless sockets. We recommend turning the circuit off at the breaker before you do this type cleaning. Also, the bulbs should be allowed to dry before you turn them back on. Using this low cost, simple method, we think growers can effectively clean their energy efficient bulbs and avoid the decreased light output caused by poultry house dust accumulation.
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Growing Up Hilburn (Part 2) ... continued from pg.11 lives in Cullman, is absent, though he comes down when there is work to do on the farm. Their mother and the farm keep them close. Ray worries that without their mother that their bonds might be strained, but for now they are as close as five brothers with a spread of 14 years can be. They share in the farm. Donald, as the manager, is paid a salary. The rest are paid by the hour for their work, with the profits put back into the farm. The farm is, in fact, so well run
that Hilburn & Sons Poultry Farm was recently recognized as Pilgrim’s Grower of the Month in November 2011. They raise approximately 850,000 broilers a year. Henry and Melba Hilburn have left to their sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren a legacy of love for family, perseverance and the value of hard work. They offer a shining example of all that is good in our industry. Ronald has a vivid memory from his childhood of his parents’ kindness. One Sunday afternoon Henry and the boys were gathering eggs, when someone came to the chicken
house to tell Henry that a strange man was trying to get into his house. Melba was there alone, so Henry hurried home. The man was drunk and totally disoriented, but Henry took pity on him, bringing him inside and feeding him lunch. After the man had settled down some, Henry drove the man’s car with him in it, followed by Melba in the family car, all the way to the man’s home in Montgomery. It is just one of many examples of the humanity of a man who had experienced hard times, reaching out to help someone else at a time of need. That is the kind of legacy that we should all strive to leave.
The Passing of a Friend John Udaka,92, has died. He, along with his wife, Mieko, founded Udaka’s Chick Sexing Service of GadsJohn Udaka den in 1958. He served the Alabama poultry industry until his retirement in 1987. His work helped in the growth of elite breeders such as Aviagen and Hubbard. Udaka was a highly decorated veteran of the U.S. Army’s 442 Combat Regiment in World War II. John Udaka was profiled in this magazine in the Sep/Oct 2011 issue.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Allied Fund-Raising Golf Tournament October 4 – Chesley Oaks – Cullman
2012 Grower Educational Seminars
ADVERTISING INDEX Alabama Ag / Alabama Farm Credit American Proteins Aviagen Bobcat of Oxford Daughtry Ins. Agency Ecodrum Farm and Ranch Hardware First South Farm Credit Goldin Metals Hayes Rasbury Ins. Agency Jones-Hamilton PLT Lee Energy Solutions Northwest Envirofan Randy Jones Ins. Agency Thompson Tractor
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Tuesday, October 9 Cullman Civic Center – Cullman Snead State Cafeteria – Boaz Thursday, October 11 11:30 a.m. Tom Harbin Ag Center – Luverne 6:oo p.m. Coffee County Farm Center – New Brockton 11:30 a.m. 6:oo p.m.
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Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop
Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center November 13 -14
COUNTY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS Clay County Poultry & Egg Association Tuesday, October 23, 6:30 p.m. Ms. Anita’s, Lineville
Randolph County Poultry & Egg Association Thursday, November 8, 6:30 p.m. Lakeside Marina, Wedowee
Southeast Alabama Poultry & Egg Association Thursday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. Abercrombie’s, Clayton
Alabama Poultry Magazine