CLICK TO WATCH : ‘ WAYNE FARMS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ’ 147 Wayne Farms in 2011 , bringing with him profound industry experience . Not only has Smith been in the feed and grain industry since 1992 , his father , grandfather , and great-grandfather before him were grain brokers . This deep well of experience is important in the industry , as Smith ’ s role requires constant vigilance . “ Working with live animals means there can ’ t be a break in the supply chain ,” says Smith . “ If the ingredients don ’ t show up , you can ’ t feed the animals and then they suffer . We never want that to happen , or even come close .”
Smith ’ s experience has also allowed him to establish deep-rooted connections across every level of the industry . Wayne Farms was initially a client of his , buying the corn that he sold . Whether seller or buyer , good relationships are key . “ It ’ s a two-way street ,” explains Smith . “ You have to form partnerships and really work as a team in order to both survive .” Within the company , relationship building focuses on establishing close employee ties . Not being a public company gives Wayne Farms greater control over its internal operations . “ Even with 9,000
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