West inducted into Hall

Fifty-one years after graduating from Mississippi State University, Coyt “Bud” West returned to his alma mater to be honored by the industry he served. On Nov. 17, West’s colleagues, friends, family, and MSU faculty and administration gathered at the university’s poultry science building to honor West as he was inducted into the Mississippi Poultry Association’s Hall of Fame for his many years of service to the poultry industry.

West majored in agricultural education and took on a few different jobs after graduation before deciding to manage his family soybean farm. Determined to make a career for himself, West joined Sanderson Farms in 1969 as a pullet handling supervisor. He was promoted to various jobs such as breeder hen house supervisor and broiler manager in Hazlehurst. He eventually became production division manager at Sanderson Farms headquarters in Laurel, and spearhead a new complex in McComb. After his success in McComb, West managed the building of a new complex in Bryan-College Station, Texas.

West eventually returned to the business headquarters in Laurel as director of production. He retired in 2005 and now enjoys spending time with his wife, daughters and grandchildren.