LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After almost two decades of leading The Poultry Federation as its president, Marvin Childers retired this month. Blake Rollins, currently TPF’s executive vice president, will assume the president role beginning on Jan. 1.
Before stepping down, Childers recently received the first-ever Partner of the Year Award from Destination Rogers, which also recognized the federation’s longstanding partnership with the group. Destination Rogers is a destination marketing organization, overseen by the Rogers Advertising and Promotion Council, which works to promote and create economic opportunities for the city of Rogers, Ark. The group noted that The Poultry Federation’s multiple annual conferences and events attract thousands of attendees to the area.
“There could not be a more deserving recipient of Destination Rogers’ inaugural Destination Partner of the Year award than Marvin Childers and The Poultry Federation,” J.R. Shaw, Destination Rogers executive director, said in the award announcement. “Marvin’s commitment to supporting our community and driving economic growth has made a tremendous impact on Rogers. The Poultry Federation’s annual events generate more than $3 million in economic impact, but their influence goes far beyond dollars and cents. Bringing the brightest minds in the poultry and egg industry to Rogers shines a spotlight on a sector that is essential to the story of Northwest Arkansas.”
Destination Rogers also highlighted the region’s poultry industry.
“Without the poultry industry, Northwest Arkansas would be a very different place,” Shaw added. “This industry has created thousands of jobs, drawn people from across the country to make this region their home, and shaped our community for the better. We are grateful for Marvin’s leadership and the Federation’s longstanding partnership.”
“This recognition reflects not only Marvin’s leadership, but also the strength of the partnership between The Poultry Federation and Destination Rogers,” Rollins said. “Our partnership highlights the poultry and egg industry’s critical role as a driver of Northwest Arkansas’s economy.”
Earlier this year, Childers also spent some time with Poultry Times on its podcast, The Coop Scoop, and reflected on his time with the Federation and the importance of the poultry industry to Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. He noted that during his tenure he always viewed serving the needs of the poultry industry companies as a vital role.
“Helping the companies, that’s what I feel like my job was when I took over was to make certain that we help the companies,” Childers said. “We also help the allied members, and we provide them opportunities to network. And I’m proud of the work that we’ve done over the 19 years I’ve been here.”
