The Virginia Pork Industry Association recently presented Jeff Luckman, vice president of livestock procurement for Smithfield Foods, Inc. the 2004 Pork Industry Service Award. Jeff received this award for his dedicated service and outstanding leadership for the Virginia Pork Industry at its annual awards ceremony in January.

After graduating from Purdue University in 1976 with a B.S. in Animal Science, he immediately began his career in the meat industry. He has been with Smithfield Foods for 10 years and previously with John Morrell & Company since 1988.

Jeff is very active on the Animal Science Advisory Board for Purdue University and won the 2002 Outstanding Animal Sciences Alumni Award. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board for our Polish subsidiary Animex Agri and recently won an award this year for his dedication and commitment to Animex.

Appointed by Governor George Allen in 1996, Jeff is a member of the Virginia Pork Industry Board. He has chaired the Budget Committee and other vital committees for the Board. “Having Jeff on the Board has been a huge asset to the state and the industry,” said John Parker, chairman of the Virginia Pork Industry Association. “I would hate to think where would be without him [Luckman] and his leadership.”

The Virginia Pork Industry Association represents all facets of the industry including producers, feed producers, packers, extension agents and more. With its 1,000+ members, the Association is the voice of the industry in the state of Virginia.

The Association presents the Service Award to someone who is dedicated to furthering the industry throughout the state and beyond.

Several other Smithfield Foods employees have received the Service Award in the past. Winners include Lewis Little, past president of Smithfield Packing and J.D. Gwaltney of Gwaltney Foods.

Since the publication of our Winter newsletter issue, we have focused on preparing our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for print in 4 languages: English, Spanish, Polish and French.

Sweeping changes have occurred in the business world over the past several years. Corporate scandals are in the news almost every day. Much of what has taken place recently relates to corporate ethics and conduct or the lack thereof. In response, the federal government has responded to social outcries of “foul” and has passed many new laws including the Sarbanes- Oxley Act.

All publicly traded corporations, including Smithfield Foods, Inc., are now required to comply with and enforce corporate ethics under these new laws. Although most public companies had guidelines in effect prior to enactment of Sarbanes Oxley, the new regulations outline even greater responsibilities traded companies have to the general public.

We at Smithfield Foods, Inc. take these new regulations seriously just as we have in the past. However, to reinforce our desire for integrity, fairness and ethical business conduct, our Board of Directors approved this Business Code and directed us to distribute it to our employees. Making it available on our website was the first step. Publishing it for distribution is our next step and we are close to that end!

Look for your Human Resources Department to be sending out information on this code of conduct and ethics very soon or download them today from the corporate website.