Learning a Business From the Ground Up
Author: Meg Henderson
Josh Moore (Photo by Submitted)
Josh Moore grew up surrounded by agriculture in his hometown of Laurel. In high school, he was active in his high school's Future Farmers of America club and worked for his uncle's custom lumber cutting business. After receiving his associate degree in forestry from Jones County Junior College, Moore transferred to MSU's forestry program, ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps.
Moore studied forestry for a year, but at the time, the job market in that industry was tight. No longer certain about his career path, Moore went home and worked the next semester, hoping to refocus and return to school.
"A friend of mine encouraged me to enroll in the poultry science program with him. Although I did not know much about the industry, I knew that it was large in Mississippi and was confident that I could find a job in the field," Moore said.
Moore enrolled in the poultry science program and enjoyed his classes, especially those related to bird health and husbandry. He graduated with a bachelor's in poultry science, becoming the first in his immediate family to earn a college degree.
"While I enjoy all aspects of my job, my original enjoyment of the field began with my classes that focused on bird health and husbandry and then working in live bird production, caring for the flock, and overseeing their wellbeing," he said.
After graduation, he began taking graduate level courses in the poultry nutrition program. However, when he heard that a fellow MSU alumnus was hiring interns at Cal-Maine Foods' Edwards, Mississippi facility, Moore was eager to start working and took the job.
"I started with Cal-Maine in 2001, and it's been the only job I've had ever since," he said. "Even though we have many locations across the country, it's a close-knit company that truly feels like a family."
After taking various roles in processing and supervising production, Moore was promoted to production manager in 2002. Six years later, he and his wife, also an MSU graduate, moved to Lake City, Florida to take a promotion to general manager. In 2013, he took another promotion to general manager of the Rossburg, Ohio facilities, and in 2019, he moved into his current role as vice-president of operations for the Ohio and Kentucky egg laying and processing facilities.
"I've done everything from picking up and packing eggs to sweeping chicken houses to high-level sales," Moore said. "It was good to start at the ground level because I understood the daily operations of the people I would later supervise."
Looking back on his 21 years at Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., Moore said that one of the greatest rewards of his career has been watching young people begin their careers with the company.
"Seeing young people enter the industry and grow is one of the most enjoyable parts of my career," he said.
Moore encourages today's students to think broadly and not limit their options when it comes to applying their degree to a career.
"A lot of students don't understand how their degree can prepare them to work in many different industries," he said. "Explore your opportunities, and don't limit your choices. You might end up working in an industry you had never considered before."
Date: 2024-10-11
