Daniel (Danny Ray) Smith started his 39-year career working for the company on May 26, 1987, which was then named Rockingham Poultry Marketing Coop, Inc. His first job with the company was in Evisceration, then started working in the Foot Room when it was first opened. Later he transferred to the Stack-off department, then the Shipping department until he was promoted to Lead and went to evening shift for a while. He was then promoted to day shift Shipping supervisor, where he is currently working.
I asked Danny how much has changed since he started working for the company, and he said there was no orientation, on his first day he was handed his smock and hairnet and went to work. Technology has increased tremendously, in Shipping now all the product must be wrapped in plastic and there are now temperature recorders on many of the loads. There is a lot more paperwork, although they used to hand tally all loads, which are now scanned by computers. Danny grew up around chickens because his grandfather had chicken houses. The technology in the houses has changed. He remembers helping to feed and water chickens by hand, filling up the woodstove to keep them warm and using water sprays to keep them cool. Now those things are automated.
Danny and I talked about the supervisors and managers he has worked for during his years with the company. He said he enjoyed working with Sandy Baker, Bill Fitzwater and his current manager, Todd Bramsen. Notable plant and complex managers he admired are Walt Shafer, Scott Varner and Allen Collins.
When I asked Danny about the most memorable event he remembers since he started working, he told me some interesting stories. One day he walked outside of the dock and saw a truck driver taking a shower with a water hose. Some of the drivers like to carry their pets with them. He has seen cats, dogs (once was three big Rottweilers), and even saw a driver with a weasel once! Danny also can’t forget the day during the Covid period when the plant was giving away free chicken to the public and basically shut down the town due to the traffic. No one expected so many people to show up!
When Danny isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons. He loves rabbit hunting and goes to Maine to hunt with his sons. He also gets together with his family and they take the family children with them to teach them to hunt.
What does the future hold for Danny? He will continue working at Pilgrim’s until he can retire. When he retires, he wants to take his wife up the coast to Maine and do more traveling around the country. He will be spending a lot of his time outdoors, which he really enjoys!
Thank you, Danny, for your dedication, hard work and loyalty to our Company!
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.
