Cicero High School Students Get On-the-Job Experience Through Smithfield Foods' Learners to Leaders Program

CICERO, Ill., Dec. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from Morton East High School in Cicero had an opportunity on Thursday to get some practical on-the-job experience, along with sampling some interesting spices, through a unique partnership between Junior Achievement of Chicago and the Smithfield Foods family of companies.

The group of 16 sophomores, juniors and seniors took part in a "job shadow" event hosted by Saratoga Food Specialties of Bolingbrook, a unit of John Morrell & Co. and its parent company, Smithfield Foods, Inc. They were accompanied by Cicero Town Trustees Victor Garcia and Larry Banks.

Junior Achievement of Chicago and Smithfield's Learners to Leaders® educational initiative planned the day for the students, which included touring Saratoga's plant, office, and research and development facilities, and then shadowing employees in each work area to learn something about their job duties.

The students also were treated to lunch by Saratoga's research and development staff, which prepared dishes using some of the company's signature spices.  Saratoga Food Specialties produces dry spice blends, including ethnic seasonings, marinades, sauce and gravy mixes, and meat and poultry seasonings.

"This was a wonderful group of young people, and we enjoyed the opportunity to talk to them about some career possibilities," said Jim Bejna, director of operations for Saratoga Food Specialties.

"One of the great things about our Learners to Leaders partnership is that students learn about career choices available to them when they finish their educations, and businesses will have access to talented, skilled and motivated young leaders," Bejna said.

Sandy Daffe, president of Junior Achievement of Chicago said, "We're very grateful to Saratoga Food Specialties, John Morrell and Smithfield Foods for making it possible for these students to experience first-hand some interesting business operations and the key functions that make the businesses successful. It was invaluable for them to actually talk with people performing a variety of jobs."

"I think all of us can agree that education is the bedrock of any community, and that the single most important element of any community's future is educating its young people for eventual leadership positions," Daffe said. "Learners to Leaders is helping us in that worthy effort."

Dennis H. Treacy, Smithfield Foods' senior vice president and chief sustainability officer said, "We have made a very strong corporate commitment to enhancing educational efforts in the communities where our employees live, work and raise their families. We're all very excited to be working with Junior Achievement to help prepare these young people for successful futures."

The Learners to Leaders program is a national educational alliance that teams Smithfield Foods and its independent operating companies, such as John Morrell and Saratoga Food Specialties, with local educational and mentoring partners to develop individually tailored community programs to help individuals achieve educational goals. Learners to Leaders focuses on those who have the desire to succeed, but need some assistance to strengthen their skills and overcome challenges—whether academic, social or economic. These are often first-generation college-bound students, low-income, or minority individuals.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $12 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Farmland,® Smithfield,® Eckrich,® Armour® and John Morrell.® Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

SOURCE Smithfield Foods