—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 28, 1976
16
FFA agribusinessman
I Continued from Page Ij
The four named were
selected from among the 747
members who have been
recommended by their
respective State FFA
Associations to receive the
FFA American Farmer
Degree.
Lynn Groff has taken
advantage of every learning
experience that has come his
way, and today, the
energetic young man from
Ephrata is reaping the
benefits.
Lynn, who is the Eastern
Region nominee for the FFA
Star Agribusinessman of
America award, is the
product department group
leader of Victor Weaver,
Inc., a poultry and egg
processing plant in New
Holland.
The son of Mr. and Mrs.
Samuel Groff, Lynn never
lived on a farm, largely
because of the high cost of
land in Lancaster County.
But his FFA and vocational
agriculture training under
Clifford Day provided him
with opportunities to expand
his knowledge in
agricultural-related in
dustries.
“Land costs are probably
why I got involved in the
processing of farm products
rather than production,” he
explains. “I feel that the
FFA supervised work ex
perience programs helped
me decide to find a job
closely related to
agriculture.”
Immediately after
graduating from Garden
Spot High School, Lynn was
employed at Weaver’s as a
group leader in the slicing
department. Since then,
through hard work and
dedication, he has moved up
in the organization.
Weaver’s started as a
small business processing
200 birds a week. Today, the
company processes more
than 70,000 birds a day,
employs more than 1,000
persons and distributes its
products across the nation
and overseas.
“The expanding business
has been made possible to a
large extent by the in
creasing number of products
that the company has suc
cessfully tested . and
marketed,” Lynn says.
Lynn’s employers took
notice of his work. He was
offered the position of
product development
technician, which required
developing new products and
equipment. “It was a
challenge I accepted with
great anticipation,” Lynn
recalls. “In product
development you work with
all areas of the plant.”
“The food industry is an
ever-changing field and we
must stay abreast of new
trends and processing
methods,” he says. “When
problems occur on
production, we are asked to
find solutions. We are con
stantly striving to improve
our products and trying to
reduce costs while at the
same time maintaining
quality.”
After working for a year
and a half as development
technician, Lynn agam was
offered a promotion, this
tune as department group
leader. Again, he was given
more responsibilities.
“This job requires working
with sales and marketing
very closely,” he says. “You
need to learn what the
consumer wants and develop
products along those lines.”
“In my work, we are
always trying new
products,” he adds. “It’s my
responsibility to get
production started and keep
a close watch on the quality.
Trying to solve the problems
that arise with a new product
is a constant challenge in my
job. Breakdowns must be
kept at a minimum to keep
all operations flowing
smoothly.”
Lynn will never forget the
valuable education he
received while a member of
FFA Vocational Agriculture
programs. “My FFA
training prepared me well in
keeping complete and ac
curate records, which are
important in my job,” he
says.
“I have enjoyed my
association with FFA. It has
helped me develop my
leadership abilities in the
chapter, community,
church, and my work.
Speaking before FFA groups
did a great deal to develop
my self-confidence which is
essential in supervising
others.”
The ambitious
agribusinessman is satisfied
with his success, but he is
optimistic of an even
brighter future. “I intend to
stay at Weaver’s,” he says,
“but I’ll be open to any
further opportunities that
come along.”
As Star Agribusinessman
for their respective regions,
each will receive a cash
award of $5OO presented by
the National FFA Foun
dation at the National Future
Farmers of America Con
vention in Kansas City,
Missouri, November 9-12. At
that time, one will be named
Star Agribusinessman of
America and will receive an
additional $5OO. A committee
of judges including leaders
m business, agriculture, and
education will meet m
Kansas City on November 11
to select the Star
Agribusinessman of
America.
The Star Agnbusinessman
of America Award was
established in 1969 to
recognize the growing
number of FFA members
becoming established in
agribusiness occupations.
Like the Star Farmer of
America Award which is the
highest honor for an FFA
member becoming
established in farming, the
Star Agribusinessman
Award recognizes the FFA
member whose
achievements in an
agriculture related oc- Farmers of America
cupation and leadership are Foundation, Inc., which
most outstanding in the receives its funds by annual
nation.
The Star Agribusinessmen
of America awards are
provided by the Future
READ LANCASTER FARMING
FOR FULL MARKET REPORTS
Lynn Groff
contributions from about
1,600 business and industrial
concerns, organizations, and
individuals.
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