FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The National Turkey Federation honored Paul Hill, West Liberty Foods, Ellsworth, Iowa, with its Lifetime Achievement Award at the NTF 2026 Annual Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The award recognizes Hill’s decades of leadership, service, and lasting contributions to the U.S. turkey industry, NTF said in its announcement.
Dating back to 1947, Hill’s family has deep roots in turkey farming and are pioneers in the Iowa turkey industry. In 1957, the Hill family became among the first in the state to raise breeder turkeys, NTF added. Paul Hill’s career is a perfect example of a lifetime commitment to turkey production, processing and industry leadership.
Before dedicating his life to the turkey industry, Hill earned his degree in economics from St. Olaf College, spent time doing mission work in Thailand, and served in the National Guard. After marrying his wife, Mary, in 1967, Hill returned to Ellsworth, where he raised turkeys, as well as crops and cattle, NTF noted.
Throughout his career, Hill worked with multiple turkey processing companies, such as Land O’Lakes, Sara Lee, and eventually West Liberty Foods. Hill was one of the nearly 50 farmers who came together in 1996 to form West Liberty Foods, a farmer-owned company, NTF said. He even served as Chairman of the Board for the company.
Outside of his work with West Liberty Foods, Hill was very active at the national level. He served as chairman of the National Turkey Federation and, in 2008, he had the honor of presenting the National Thanksgiving Turkey to President George W. Bush at the White House, NTF added.
Most recently, in 2016, he served as the chairman for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).
“Paul Hill’s more than half-century career in turkey embodies what the NTF Lifetime Achievement Award represents,” NTF President and CEO Leslee Oden said. “Paul has been a farmer, a processor, a national leader, and he remains one of the most respected voices in the turkey industry. His decades of leadership created tremendous opportunities for turkey growers and helped carry the industry through some of its most pivotal moments.”
Hill is the 78th recipient of the NTF Lifetime Achievement Award, the federation’s highest individual honor presented to turkey industry leaders who have made a lasting and meaningful impact with their careers.
