Steve Willardsen was elected chairman of the board of directors of US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) at their meeting during the 2010 International Poultry Expo.

Willardsen had previously served as vice chairman. He was presented the traditional ''working man's gavel''by 2009 chairman Monty Henderson.

A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in agribusiness, he has been in the poultry industry for more than 26 years. He started with Norbest, spent several years at Land O'Lakes as complex manager, and at Cargill as complex general manager. Also, he was chief operating officer for Rocco in Virginia. Willardsen is now president of Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, Kansas. He has served on the USPOULTRY board of directors since 2001.