When Walt Shafer, chief operations officer for Fremont, Neb.-based Lincoln Premium Poultry and MEAT+POULTRY's Operations Executive of the Year for 2021, started working on pullet crews and in hatcheries doing grunt work as a teenager in Harrisonburg, Va., he never fathomed he'd make a career working in the chicken business. His father, a farm manager, got him the summer jobs, and consequently his start in the business. In addition to starting Shafer in the chicken business, his father also imparted him with a solid foundation for success in all endeavors, starting with a strong work ethic."He certainly gave me the work ethic," Shafer said. "I tell people I might not be the smartest one out there all the time, but I certainly have the work ethic, and I certainly will get out there and roll my sleeves up and get out there with them. And all my career, I've done that."Shafer strengthened his abilities to overcome challenges and achieve by taking another trait from his father. He understands the need to surround himself with people that offset his own fundamental weaknesses. He learned from his dad to build the right team of people.
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