BUDDY HESSE – HATCHERY
Buddy Hesse (Harold Hesse III) started working for Rockingham Poultry Coop on October 22, 1986. He first started working in the Sawline Department and it was his first job ever! The start of Buddy’s 38-year career at our company soon led to working in a few different departments before he went to his current job as Supervisor at the Hatchery. He worked as Receiving Clerk and remembers when everything was handwritten. He worked in the KFC and Paw Room departments, and in the Box Room for many years as a Lead and Supervisor. He was also a Supervisor in the Stack-off department.
I asked Buddy about things that have changed since he started working for the company and he, like most other senior team members, said “a lot!” So many changes, not only the size of the plant, but production volumes have vastly increased. When he first started working in the Box Room, they received two – three loads of boxes per week, and now they receive three – four loads per day! Many of the jobs have become automated. He also remembers when there were two machines in the Box Room, which folded and stapled boxes and lids. Everything else was hand folded. Now the product is run through metal detectors so there are no staples in the boxes.
When Buddy and I talked about his supervisors and managers over the years, he said he liked many of them that he worked with. Paul Ketterman was a good manager, he listened and they had a good rapport. He also remembers Satch Wratchford and Walt Shafer, who was very direct, but he liked that about him.
We talked about memorable events during his tenure, and he remembered a couple that stood out to him. The transition from the old to new plant in the 1990’s was very memorable. This update doubled the production and Buddy said he still remembers when employees used to joke around and say, “It will be better in the new plant”. Another memorable event he remembers is the cyber-attack on the company, which happened just a few years ago. The plant had to shut down for a day or two while the company resolved the issue.
When Buddy isn’t working, he likes to spend his time with his family. He also likes to hunt and fish when he can. Buddy and his wife, Tammy, like to take trips to the beach a couple times a year. They have a trip planned to Nassau this year and they spend some weekends in Ocean City. They do a lot of traveling in their spare time.
What does Buddy’s future hold? He said he will keep working at the Hatchery, but there could be a move to South Carolina where his daughter lives. He said that if there are any grandkids in the future that he and his wife would definitely consider moving south!
Thank you, Buddy, for your dedication, hard work and loyalty to our Company. We Appreciate You!
About Pilgrim’s
Pilgrim’s employs more than 56,000 people and operates protein processing plants and prepared-foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K. and continental Europe. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors. For more information, please visit www.pilgrims.com.
