Wayne-Sanderson Farms Rescue Truck Donation Upgrades Local Emergency Response Capabilities

LAUREL, MS. (November 26^th, 2024) – Wayne-Sanderson Farms recently stepped up to support local firefighters from Jones County’s M&M Volunteer Fire Department, donating a specially-outfitted Ford F350 truck to replace the department’s aging rescue vehicle. The small department handles more than 300 emergency calls each year, and was facing the purchase of a new rescue truck while struggling to afford new emergency equipment.

Wayne-Sanderson Farms employee Ben Hughes, a live haul manager who also serves as an M&M volunteer firefighter, decided to approach local company officials with the quandry and last week Kevin Butler, Wayne-Sanderson Farms fleet manager, handed the keys to the upgraded rescue rig to M&M Fire Chief Steven Ishee. Ishee is also a department volunteer as well as a local farmer and grower with Wayne-Sanderson Farms. “The money we were going to have to spend on a new truck can now go for turnout gear for our firefighters, rescue equipment for victims and other department needs,” said Ishee. The F350 will be painted and outfitted with fire and rescue equipment including a tool-bed body, skid unit, firefighting tools and other rescue gear.

M&M VFD and Jones County Fire Council officials expressed “immense gratitude” for Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ donation and support of firefighters and community. “It will have a profound impact on the department and the county’s ability to provide services to our community,” said council spokeswoman Dana Bumgardner. “This gift reflects Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ dedication to and unwavering support for the well-being of our community.”

About Wayne-Sanderson Farms

Wayne-Sanderson Farms is an industry leader and the nation’s third-largest poultry producer, serving customers, consumers and communities with integrity, leadership and responsible farm, workplace and business practices. With a diverse portfolio of products, a strong operating culture and an industry-leading workforce of more than 26,000 people, Wayne-Sanderson Farms owns and operates 23 fresh and further-processing facilities across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas. Wayne-Sanderson Farms produces affordable, high-quality poultry products for retail, foodservice, restaurant, industrial and institutional segments under the brand names of SANDERSON FARMS® fresh chicken; COVINGTON FARMS® fresh and frozen chicken; WAYNE FARMS® fresh and prepared chicken; PLATINUM HARVEST® premium fresh chicken; CHEF’S CRAFT® gourmet chicken; and NAKED TRUTH® premium chicken. For more information, visit our website at http://www.waynesandersonfarms.com