When it comes to the poultry industry, Preston Stiles is as invested as they come. As vice president sales at Conveyor Technology, he is one of two individuals at the firm to win The Poultry Federation’s coveted Sales Representative of the Year-Processing award.
Preston Stiles
That fact alone would cause Stiles to stand out, but the 24-year veteran of the poultry industry was not content to rest on individual accolades. Instead, he has spent more than two decades giving back to The Poultry Federation, including serving on the board for the federation’s allied member group, as well as the TPF board of directors itself. He is also a familiar sight at the festival, where he invests considerable time to the scholarship auction in whatever capacity he is needed.
Stiles said he took on the governance roles out of wanting to improve the industry for the membership, but the scholarship program is what grabbed him by the heart and has not let go for more than 20 years.
“What really got me sucked in is what [The Poultry Federation] does for the kids,” he said. “I started working very heavily with them on the auction part that we do because it raises scholarship money for kids here in the state, both those with financial needs and also those that are just worthy of investing money in their future. Every dollar we raise through the auction goes to kids who represent the future of the industry.
“I love that because we’re only as good as what the future is coming down the pike. If you don’t have people coming up behind you that are going to carry that on and go even further, then you’re actually fighting a losing battle. Getting them through school and all can be expensive. Investing in those kids and helping create the difference makers of the future is something that I am really, really passionate about.”
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