Bob Evans Farms, Inc., Honored With American Meat Institute Edward C. Jones Community Service Award

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Bob Evans Farms, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio, today was honored with the American Meat Institute’s Edward C. Jones Community Service Award. CEO Steve Davis accepted the award, which was presented during the AMI Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase, October 4-6, 2006, in Hollywood, Fla.

AMI Chairman Robert Manly, executive vice president of Smithfield Foods, Inc., presented the award. “The great Bob Hope once said, “If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you’ve got the worst kind of heart trouble,” Manly said. “The Team Members at Bob Evans Farms have demonstrated just how healthy – and big -- their hearts are.”

When Bob Evans employees lost their colleague and friend Cindy Akers to breast cancer in December 2005, the employees rallied in her memory, forming “Team Bob Evans” and launching a major effort to raise money for the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure. The company proudly notes that this was not a corporate-sponsored initiative. Rather, it was a 14-week grassroots effort from across all areas of the company. Colleagues saddened by their loss came together to do something positive by raising funds to find a cure.

Team Bob Evans set a goal to raise $30,000 for the race. They launched bake sales, garage sales, silent auctions, a car wash, a bowl-a-thon and many other activities. When race time came, the Team had raised $103,000 and paid a touching and fitting tribute to their friend.

“This team effort mirrors many of Bob Evans Farms’ corporate efforts in all the communities where they operate,” Manly said. The company’s many philanthropic efforts focus on families and children – “areas that reflect our values and the interests of our employees, customers and stockholders,” the company says.

The award is named in honor former AMI Board member, the late Edward C. Jones of Jones Dairy Farm, in Ft. Atkinson, Wisc., who was a model of community service.