NWN Ruritans hear from Case Farms manager
The Northwestern Ruritan Club met Aug. 14 for the monthly club dinner/meeting at Northwestern High School. President Kim Wellert welcomed members and guest Allen Hypes, the group joined in singing “America,” and the invocation was given by Jim Johnson prior to the dinner served by the school chefs.
Dr. Dick Wiley introduced Hypes, the live production manager of Case Farms Chickens’ Ohio division. Hypes recalled attending Ruritan meetings with his father while he was a boy.
Hypes gave a PowerPoint program on the business. Case Farms began business in 1986. In 2006 about 250,000 birds total were slaughtered per week, and now that total is around 2 million, making it the largest poultry business in Ohio. The company owns its own feed mill in Massillon and mainly processes fast-food cuts with customers including KFC, Popeyes, Chick-Fil-A, Texas Roadhouse and Giant Eagle.
In Wayne County there are two breeder farms and 20 broiler farms. Advantages for farmers raising the birds include minimal acreage needed and farmers have only one “customer” to supply all their needs. The company has about 2.75 million hatching eggs produced a week, and chicks need about 35 days to grow to 4 pounds, at which time they are processed.
A thank-you note was received from United Way of Wayne/Holmes Counties for club sponsorship for Northwestern’s Reading Under the Lights. Attending students were able to take home five free new books to keep and read. Thank-you notes also were received from many of the students.
A motion was passed that the club make donations to the Mohican Church Grocery Bag, Panda Preschool, Weekday Christian Education, West Salem Outreach, Wooster Salvation Army and the Wooster Christian Children’s Home.
Jamie Bowman reported he had new flags for the Parade of Flags to replace those that were damaged. Flags will be put back out prior to Patriot Day on Sept. 11.
Chuck Beck said the next packages for the Husky Brigade will be packed on Saturday, Nov. 18 and that he would appreciate members bringing in goodies for the packages at the Nov. 13 meeting.
Members signed up to assist people at the recycling bins at the Congress Township House on Sept. 2 and 16 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Wiley expressed appreciation for the five members who helped with the West Salem Bike Race on July 22. He had about 60 riders signed up for the race, which was 15 miles in length.
With no more business, following the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, the meeting was adjourned. The next dinner/meeting will be Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Northwestern High School. The program will be by the Citizenship, Patriotism and Flags Committee. The directors meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the school library.