COLLEGE STATION — Bo Pilgrim, senior chairman of the board of Pilgrim’s Pride Cooperation, has received the Distinguished Texan in Agriculture award from the Agriculture Program of The Texas A&M University System.
The honor was presented to Pilgrim during the annual Texas Poultry Federation Association meeting on Saturday (July 22) in San Antonio. The presentation was made by Dr. Ed Hiler, vice chancellor of the Agriculture Program of the Texas A&M System, and Dr. C.R. Creger, executive associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The Distinguished Texan in Agriculture Award recognizes agricultural leaders who possess the highest standards of integrity and character for their outstanding leadership and significant contributions to Texas agriculture.
Bob Palm, senior vice president of Pilgrim’s Pride, said Pilgrim’s business goal, saving rural America, certainly qualifies him for the honor.
“Mr. Pilgrim and his late brother started Pilgrim’s Pride as a little farm store in Pittsburg, Texas, when he was 17 years old,” he said. “Pilgrim’s Pride has now grown to include over 12,000 employees working in agricultural related jobs in rural communities.”
Creger, who was formerly head of Texas A&M’s poultry science department, said Pilgrim is an innovator in the marketing world. His contributions include the development of health conscious foods, including a lean chicken and nutrient-fortified “EggsPlus.”
Pilgrim serves on the Texas Water Resources Board, the Governor’s Task Force for Agriculture and the Governor’s Business Council. He has also served as chairman of the National Chicken Council, chairman of the National Broiler Council and president of the Midwest Feed Manufacturers Association.
Gil A. Strickland, founder and president of Marketplace Ministries, said Pilgrim’s name is synonymous with service.
“The unusual thing about this man is his consistency to enhance, support and defend Texas agriculture, every aspect of it,” he said. “His good business practice is rooted in traditional and biblical values of telling the truth, caring for people and putting the interest of others before himself.”
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