RALEIGH, N.C. — After 21 years of commitment to the North Carolina Poultry Federation, Robert Ford will be retiring from his position as executive director at the end of the year. He earned the position in November 2004, but he was involved in the poultry and agriculture industries long before joining the federation.
Ford earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture, with a minor in biology from Western Kentucky University, NCPF notes. After graduating, he got a job with Upjohn-Pharmacia in their animal health division, which is now part of Pfizer Inc.
“I started in 1971 right out of college,” Ford said. “I got to bop around the industry … and, as we grew our animal health business we were able to add some poultry products to our list and that helped me because of all of the chickens on Delmarva and turkeys and chickens in the Shenandoah Valley where I was living kept me pretty busy.
“The latter part of my career with the Upjohn animal health division was strictly poultry account[s], so you just kind of learn the industry by osmosis,” Ford added.
Ford spent 31 years with Upjohn-Pharmacia before the federation reached out to him for an interview, but it wasn’t just his time with the pharmaceutical company that had piqued their interest.
“They were looking for somebody to run the North Carolina Poultry Federation, and I had had some experience in Virginia as an interim president of the Virginia Poultry Federation,” Ford said. “And I knew some of the industry leaders in North Carolina, so one thing led to another … and they made me a job offer.”
During his tenure, Ford and the rest of the NCPF worked hard to ensure that the state’s poultry industry was well taken care of when it came to legislation and development.
“Part of our job was to make sure that the General Assembly understood agriculture and that we didn’t get run over by growth and urban sprawl,” Ford noted. “So, we made sure we didn’t get hit over the head with any kind of legislation that would constrict the growth of the industry or harm it in any way … so we could all live happily together.”
With all his years in the industry, both with NCPF and Upjohn-Pharmacia, Ford has seen the industry grow and evolve into what it is today. He has also made numerous connections along the way that will stay with him after his retirement.
He mentioned that it will be those friendships and connections that he will miss the most about his job, as well as keeping up with the members of the General Assembly that have come and gone over the years.
For Ford, this retirement is nothing more than a recognition of when a person’s time with a company or organization has come to an end.
“I didn’t want to work until I was 100 years old,” Ford said. “I didn’t realize that I’d be down here 21 years but times flies. Things are going pretty good, and as long as the industry’s doing good and [you’re] keeping your Board of Directors happy and everything’s going along, you don’t really have a real big reason to retire, but my wife and I decided it was time to check out.
“You just kind of know when you need to step down, and time has come when it’s time to make that decision,” Ford added.
He officially told the federation in March that he was going to retire at the end of the year, which gave them plenty of time to find his replacement. The appointment of the new executive director, Summer Lanier, was announced in September, and she’ll take over in the new year.
“My replacement is on board now, and we’re working together to smooth things out and, end of December, I’m gone,” Ford said. “My replacement will pick up and carry the ball forward.”
Ford sang Lanier’s praises when asked about her stepping into his role.
“[She’s] very well qualified, a NC State graduate in poultry science, master’s degree in animal science and grew up on a turkey farm,” Ford noted. “[She] had been working with a turkey integrator here in North Carolina for quite a while, so she’s really well qualified to work with the industry and understand it and support it. I think they made a good choice.”
Ford can retire happily knowing that NCPF and the North Carolina poultry industry are in good hands.
“My workload’s over, so I’m in good shape just to enjoy what I want to do,” Ford said. “Good days ahead. It’s been a good ride.”
