The Poultry Federation (TPF) presented Megan Batson, Senior Regional Account Manager of Zoetis, and Gordon Whitbeck, President and Owner of Whitbeck Labs with the 2022 Allied Member of the Year award at the 62nd Annual Poultry Festival held June 10-11 in Rogers, Arkansas.
Megan Batson has been involved in animal agriculture since she attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Batson was first introduced to the poultry industry as an intern with Simmons Foods. After establishing her network in Northwest Arkansas, she joined Zoetis. Batson has been with Zoetis for almost seven years and is the Senior Regional Account Manager for their US Poultry division.
Zoetis is a global animal health company that manufactures medicines, vaccines and diagnostics products for livestock. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals in more than 100 countries.
Megan serves on the Women in Poultry Committee, the Federations Member Engagement Committee and is an active participant in TPF’s annual meetings.
She is married to Triston and they have 2 children, Riley and Merritt. Megan and her family reside in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.
Gordon Whitbeck has been in the industry for over 47 years. He studied Chemistry and Biology at John Brown University and continued his studies at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Gordon started his career as a Microbiologist at the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission Diagnostic Lab in Springdale in 1975.
“Gordon has worked tirelessly to improve the detection of diseases in the poultry industry”, stated Marvin Childers, President of the Poultry Federation.
In 1978, Whitbeck opened Whitbeck Laboratories, Inc. Whitbeck’s lab is one of the best diagnostic labs in the industry serving our tri-state region and beyond.
Gordon is married to Bonnie and they have four children. Gordon resides with his wife in Elm Springs, Arkansas.
The Allied Member of the Year Award is presented annually by TPF to recognize the contributions of the associations allied members to the poultry and egg industry. Allied members are comprised of companies that provide products and services to the industry. The annual award has been presented to over 58 individuals since 1968. The 2022 award was presented by Marvin Childers, President of The Poultry Federation.
The Poultry Federation is a trade association representing the poultry and egg industry in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The federation promotes and protects the interests of the industry and provides a unified voice for governmental affairs. The Poultry Federation is based in Little Rock, Ar., and has operational offices in Jefferson City, Mo., and Oklahoma City, Ok.
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