CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS HONORED WITH 2004 EDWARD C. JONES COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Nashville, Tenn. – Cargill Meat Solutions today was honored with the American Meat Institute (AMI) Edward C. Jones Community Service Award. Cargill Meat Solutions Executive Vice President William Rupp accepted the award, which was named for the late Ed Jones of Jones Dairy Farm and presented during AMI’s Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase, September 30-October 2, at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center.

“It is telling that the anti-hunger group America’s Second Harvest nominated Cargill,” AMI Chairman Stewart Owens, chairman of Bob Evans Farms, said. “Second Harvest said Cargill’s product donations have supported more than 13,000 community food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens in 25 states. Second Harvest affiliates also have benefited from the time and energy of Cargill employees, who regularly volunteer – something that is encouraged throughout the company.”

Cargill Meat Solutions locations across the country support their local communities through volunteer support, contributions to local United Ways, providing leadership on local non-profit boards, and making financial contributions to local hospitals, schools, youth groups and local food banks.

United Way of the Plains in Kansas saw a steep drop in donations after September 11 – and a steep increase in needs. The agency was forced to cut funding to charities dependent upon United Way support by ten percent in 2003 and another cut was slated for 2004. But Cargill employees stepped in and doubled their contributions from $200,000 to $400,000, making reduced funding for agencies unnecessary.

In addition, Cargill locations nationwide have provided a variety of support to local charities, including:

* Cargill Meat Solutions in Schuyler, Neb., funded a health and wellness resource library at hospital in Schuyler.
* Cargill Meat Solutions employees in Dodge City, Kansas provide food and cooking expertise for BBQ during annual Dodge City Days;
* In Friona, Texas, Cargill Meat Solutions is working with city to provide funding to help restore environmental habitat around local lake;
* Cargill Pork in Beardstown, Ill. provided funding to build new science labs for local high school;
* Caprock facilities in Texas panhandle formed Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Chapter to help prevent injury on the family farm;
* Cargill Meat Solutions in Wichita donated $60,000 to Catholic Charities of Wichita, which enabled the charity to buy food for the needy.

Cargill also has been a leader in encouraging diversity and a spirit of inclusion throughout the company – a spirit that also impacts communities. For their efforts, Cargill this year received eh National Conference for Community & Justice Award.

According to Owens, “We could spend the morning detailing Cargill’s generosity, but instead, we will borrow words from United Way of the Plains President Patrick Hanrahan, who said, ‘Service to the community is not a platitude written in an annual report to bolster the company’s public image. It is a way of life for this company and its employees.’”