Poultry Producer To Receive American Humane Association "National Humanitarian Medal"

Gus Arrendale, President of Georgia's Springer Mountain Farms, is recognized for his visionary leadership in animal welfare

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Humane Association, the first national humane organization and the world's largest farm animal welfare certification program, will present its prestigious National Humanitarian Medal to Gus Arrendale of Springer Mountain Farms at this week's American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™. The only charity dedicated to the protection of both America's children and animals awards the National Humanitarian Medal to visionary leaders whose actions reflect the essential values of compassion, caring and hope.

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Recently, the organization announced that it now oversees the humane treatment of nearly 1 billion farm animals through its American Humane Certified™ program, representing 10 percent of all livestock raised for food production each year in the United States. Mr. Arrendale has been with the program since the very beginning as a visionary leader in the humane movement, bringing the progressive farm animal welfare program to his family's operations.  In 2001, Arrendale led Georgia-based Springer Mountain Farms to become the first poultry producer to bear the American Humane Certified™ seal of approval. Since then, he has been key in educating his fellow producers – as well as retailers and consumers – about the benefits of third-party animal welfare audits and humane certification.

"I am honored to receive the National Humanitarian Medal from American Humane Association, an organization I deeply respect and have enjoyed working with, helping to educate my colleagues about why the American Humane Certified™ program is so vital," said Arrendale. "My family is passionate about the humane treatment of our chickens, and at Springer Mountain Farms we produce all natural chicken raised on a vegetarian diet without the use of antibiotics, steroids, growth stimulants or hormones."

Arrendale currently serves as president of Springer Mountain Farms, overseeing the day-to-day operations and decisions, but has spent most of his lifetime with the company, representing the third generation of a family dedicated to poultry farming. Even before entering elementary school, he was caring for baby Easter chicks at home, and then taking them to his grandmother's farm to live. Throughout his teenage years, he worked in a number of positions at his family's business from delivering baby chicks to working in the processing facility to delivering the finished products to the supermarkets.

This work ethic allowed him the opportunity to learn the operations of his family's business from the ground up. After receiving a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Agriculture from the University of Georgia, Arrendale returned to the company and helped to develop it into the operation it is today.

Arrendale is also committed to agricultural issues in his state and around the country. Nationally, he serves on the National Chicken Council's Marketing Committee and is a member of the National Poultry & Food Distributors Association. On the state level, he has served on the Agricultural Technology Research Program's Poultry Advisory Committee at Georgia Tech, was a past president of the Georgia Poultry Processors Association and is also a lifetime member of the Georgia Poultry Federation.

But Arrendale is equally active and dedicated to his community through his commitment to higher education. He continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Piedmont College, in Demorest, Georgia, as he has for the past 10 years. In 2007, he received Habersham County Rotary Club's Vocational Excellence Award, and in 2010 he was presented with the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Boy Scouts of America.

"The agriculture industry is the No.1 economic engine in Georgia, and businesses like Springer Mountain Farms represent the best of what our state's industry has to offer," said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. "Gus is a leader in environmental stewardship and a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious award."

"Gus has been a special partner for American Humane Association over the years, and we are honored to bestow upon him the prestigious National Humanitarian Medal at the 2013 Hero Dog Awards," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association president and CEO. "He is truly a humane visionary in the animal welfare community, deeply committed to the welfare of all farm animals. Through his leadership by example, he has been instrumental in helping the nation's oldest and largest farm animal welfare program grow at this unprecedented rate."

The American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™, honoring the nation's bravest canine heroes and humane heroes, will be held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Saturday October 5 at 7:30 p.m. Pacific, and will be broadcast nationwide on the Hallmark Channel on October 30 at 8 p.m.

About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

About Springer Mountain Farms
Springer Mountain Farms, headquartered in Baldwin, GA, is a family owned business that has been raising chickens for over 40 years. Built on strong family values and kindred relationships within the farming community, Springer Mountain Farms was the first poultry company in America to be certified by the American Humane Association for their humane growing practices. Springer Mountain Farms chickens are raised on a pesticide-free, vegetarian diet without the use of antibiotics, steroids, growth stimulants or hormones. To learn more about Springer Mountain Farms, visit www.SpringerMountainFarms.com or mobile at m.springermountainfarms.com.

SOURCE American Humane Association