More on the 2012 Conference

Urner Barry's Executive Conference and Marketing Seminar: A Time Honored Tradition

Urner Barry's Executive Conference attracts nearly 400 people annually and is the most widely attended and recognized marketing venue in the poultry and egg industries. Despite the immense growth of the event, there still remains a family semblance of the original congregation that began over 30 years ago.

In 1976 a handful of business associates converged at a local Knights of Columbus in Toms River in New Jersey to celebrate the opening of Urner Barry’s new and current headquarters.  With a few notable industry veterans in attendance – Marvin Jonson, Harold Brock and Fred Bloom to name a few-- the event, became grounded in camaraderie, education and fun and has grown over the years. The event has been heralded as Urner Barry’s Executive Conference and Marketing Seminar.

As the conference expanded, bigger and more accommodating venues have been required since the 1976 meeting place at the Knights of Columbus. For more than a decade now, conventions have been regularly held in Las Vegas, while past locations for this pinnacle event have been Atlantic City and Orlando.

A wide variety of personalities have been speakers, including many well known authors, sports figures, agricultural and marketing specialists, television commentators and national political figures: Senators Jesse Helms, Bill Bradley, Patrick Leahy, Secretary of State Alexander Haig, Vice President Dan Quayle, and political strategists Mary Matalin and James Carville are just a few guests that have attended. The event celebrating the sesquicentennial anniversary featured 2008 Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee. Most recently, Tyson CEO Donnie Smith, and politicians Harold Ford Jr. and Michael Steele have all been speakers.

At the 1986 Executive Conference, Urner Barry presented John Foley and Rivers Scarborough with its prestigious poultry and egg industry “Person of the Year” award—the very first time the company would do so. Now, representatives from the poultry and egg industries who exhibit tireless efforts toward improving the efficiency of food production, marketing and distribution are selected each year to have this honor bestowed upon them. Recipients have time and again proven themselves to be honorable in their business practices and trusted friends to the industry.

From the humble beginning of that first gathering to the elegant event of today, Urner Barry remains dedicated to the honorable and traditional celebratory significance of the Executive Conference and is pleased to host such a sensational event each year.