TYSON FOOD SERVICE SCHOOL EXPERT EARNS DOCTORATE

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (March 14, 2007) ─ Tyson Foods, Inc. congratulates Barbara Jirka for earning her Ph.D. in Foodservice Management from Iowa State University’s Child Nutrition Leadership Academy.  Jirka manages the school foodservice segment for the company and is a 20-year veteran of school foodservice. 

“We owe so much of our school segment growth to the leadership of Barbara Jirka,” said Sylvia Wulf, vice president of marketing for Tyson Food Service.  “She epitomizes the qualities we value in leaders—intelligence, willingness to learn, ability to share that knowledge with others, and a keen business sense.  She has truly earned the respect of not only her coworkers but also the foodservice industry.”

In her 20 years of school foodservice, Jirka has been recognized by the School Nutrition Association (SNA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for her leadership in the area of child nutrition and legislation.  She developed Tyson Foods’ proprietary school nutrition program, foodWISE^®, which includes modules on food safety, menu planning, and school nutrition and wellness—all designed to make the school foodservice director’s job easier.  Jirka is also credentialed by the School Nutrition Association as a School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) and serves as a media spokesperson for SNA.  She is also a liaison and educator for Tyson Foods School Broker Specialists.

For more information, visit www.tysonfoodservice.com or contact John Scroggins at john.scroggins@noble.net or 417-875-5118.

Tyson Foods, Inc. [NYSE: TSN], founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the “Powered by Tyson®” strategy.

Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

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