December 2, 2015 - During a noon luncheon at the John D Windham Civic Center Tuesday, December 1 with guest speaker Representative Chris Paddie, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce announced the 2015 Moosberg Awards to an audience of the Center Rotary Club, Center Noon Lions Club, Shelby County employees, Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison, and Chamber of Commerce members and ambassadors.
The Tyson-Carthage Complex selected Keith Putman and Shonia Putman to be the recipients. The Putmans are second generation poultry growers. The Putmans received the award in 2014 as well. They have been in the poultry business for 37 years and have a farm of 8 chicken houses with a capacity of 220,400.
The Tyson-Center Complex selected Jerry and Nadine Powell to receive the Moosberg Award. The Powell family has raised chickens for 35 years and have been a Tyson team member for 45 years. The Powell farm is a 3 house farm with a capacity of 48,400.
The Pilgrim's Pride Complex selected the James Box, Box Farm. James and Elaine Box have been in the Poulry business since 1999 and have a farm of 6 chicken houses with a capacity of 100,800 birds.
City of Center Mayor David Chadwick introduced all of the recipients and along with the assistance of Representative Paddie, presented the awards to the Putman family and the Box family. Although the Powells were unable to attend, the crowd gave them a round of applause for this great honor.
The history of the poultry industry began in 1948 in Shelby County when visionaries such as County Agent John Moosberg, Martin Middleton, Jack Motley, and Martin and Malcom Weaver dedicated themselves to establishing a poultry industry in the area. The Moosberg Award, named in honor of County Agent John Moosberg, is given to the top growers in each complex. The award recognizes the struggles of the past - the sweat, tears, and blood that made the poultry industry in Shelby County a national leader then and even today.
