CLINTON, NC. — Industry trailblazer Bill Prestage, co-founder and president of Prestage Farms and Prestage Foods, passed away on Oct. 10 at the age of 87 after a long battle with COVID pneumonia.

With his wife Marsha, Prestage founded the family owned and operated business in 1983.

Prestage began his agribusiness career in 1960 by accepting a position with Central Soya as an animal feed products salesman without any prior industry experience. He quickly excelled in the role, earning himself the Central Soya’s “Wildcat” sales award six years later.

Through Central Soya, Prestage met his good friend Otis Carroll, a chicken and hog producer, after the company transferred him to a larger sales territory in North Carolina. The two shared insights and ideas about how to produce meat more efficiently, which ultimately led to a business partnership and the creation of Carroll’s Foods. The company specialized in both poultry and pork processing.

After Carroll’s death in 1982, Prestage sold his share of the business to Carroll’s family, and a year later he began his own family-run business, the third-generation pork and poultry processing companies still thrive to this day.

Originally a Swift grow-out operation located near Harrells, NC, Prestage Farms and Prestage Foods began with 22 employees and 18 contract growers. Now the family of companies has five divisions across seven states with three processing plants collectively employing more than 2,300 people and contracting with over 450 farms. They produce 1.4 billion pounds of pork and turkey every year.

According to his obituary, Prestage had a deep appreciation for his employees, and the feeling was mutual. Prestage Farms and Prestage Foods expressed their condolences at the loss of their visionary leader.

“We at Prestage Farms and Prestage Foods are deeply saddened to convey that our founder and president, Bill Prestage, passed away Oct. 10,” said Timmy Jackson, vice president of administration for Prestage Farms Inc. “While Mr. Prestage’s accomplishments were significant and his contributions to agribusiness far reaching, it was his drive, passion and great love for his family and employees that inspired us every day. He will be deeply missed, but we will continue his good work in honor of him. On behalf of the entire Prestage team of employees across our family of companies, we extend our deepest sympathies and love to cofounder and loving wife, Marsha Prestage, and the entire Prestage family.”

A memorial will be held Oct. 15 in the Prestage Hall at the Sampson Agri-Expo Center in Clinton, NC.