Kansas Ag Connection - Nelsons Honored by Nebraska Poultry Industry

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Nelsons Honored by Nebraska Poultry Industry
Kansas Ag Connection - 03/12/2010

A Kansas poultry producer with deep roots in Nebraska has been named the 2010 Nebraska Poultry Person of the Year, while two Waverly brothers have been named to the Nebraska Poultry Industries Hall of Fame.

Awards were announced at the Nebraska Poultry Industries' annual convention last month in Columbus.

Greg Nelson of Manhattan, Kan., was named Poultry Person of the Year. Nelson began working in his family's poultry operation when he was a young boy and has run all facets of the business since. He has served as president of Nelson Poultry Farms since 1988; during that time, the company's pullet-growing capacity has more than quadrupled. In 2003, it added a new hatchery, which expanded chick-hatching capacity by 75 percent. Nelson also led the expansion of the company's breeder facilities and he now is building a feed mill to supply the birds with quality feed and he owns a large crop farming business that provides much of the grain used in feeding the flocks delivered to Nebraska processors.

Brian and Bill Bevans of Waverly were inducted into the Nebraska Poultry Industries Hall of Fame. The Bevans' father, Lloyd, founded and built the family's turkey business with brother Dick, and his sons grew up in the business.

Both brothers became involved with the Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative in Gibbon, where their turkeys were processed and marketed through Norbest Inc. Both served on the co-op's board of directors for many years. After the company was dissolved in 2009, Bill Bevans continued to raise turkeys for West Liberty Foods in West Liberty, Iowa. Brian plans to resume raising turkeys after the industry recovers.

Officers were elected to the following boards:

Nebraska Poultry Industries -- president, Gerald Muller, Wakefield; first vice president, William Bevans, Waverly; second vice president, John Black, David City; secretary-treasurer, Brent Nelson, Manhattan, Kan.; general manager, Susan Joy, Lincoln.

Nebraska Egg Council -- president, William Claybaugh, Carroll; vice president, Greg Nelson, Manhattan, Kan.; secretary, John Black, David City; treasurer, Lowell Ostrand, Wakefield; executive secretary, Susan Joy, Lincoln.

Nebraska Allied Poultry Industries -- president, Carl Stromberg, Blaine, Minn.; first vice president, Cathy Beacom, Elkhorn; second vice president, Jan Johnson, Willmar, Minn.; treasurer, Brent Nelson, Manhattan, Kan.; executive secretary, Susan Joy, Lincoln.