Organic Chicken Producer Farmer Focus Transitions to New CEO

Aug. 31, 2023

Founder and CEO of Farmer Focus will join board of managers, and Stephen Shepard will be elevated to new CEO from his current president/COO role.

Andy Hanacek

Organic chicken producer Farmer Focus announced that company founder Corwin Heatwole will transition from CEO of the company to chairman of the board of managers for the organization as part of Farmer Focus’ strategic plan.

In addition, current Farmer Focus president and COO Stephen J. Shepard will take over as CEO of the company. Heatwole will oversee a committee focused on regenerative agriculture and farming innovation.

Farmer Focus was founded in 2014 in Harrisonburg, Va., under the name Shenandoah Valley Organic, and the current name reflects the company’s “farmer first” business model. The company pays farmers well above industry averages, allows full product traceability and ensures adherence to strict animal-welfare standards, the release says.

Farmer Focus is on track to double its revenue by the end of 2024, the release also states.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.