Mountaire Farms donates to Delaware Agricultural Museum

Mountaire Farms presents a $10,000 check to the Delaware Ag Museum to help fund a poultry exhibit overhaul and honor the life of the late James Baxter. From left to right, Adam Downes, Director of Agri-Business, Lee Sproull, Grain Merchandising Manager, granddaughter Kristy (Baxter) Malin, grandson Jay Baxter, wife Ruth Baxter, Carolyn Claypoole, Museum Director, Samantha Steele, Museum Trustee, Grier Stayton, President of the Museum Board, Cody Petit, Museum Trustee and J. Everett Moore, Trustee. (Image: Cathy Bassett)

DOVER, Del. – Mountaire Farms recently made a generous donation of $10,000 to the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover, in honor of a late Sussex County farmer.

James H. Baxter, Jr. was a farmer in Stockley, Delaware his entire life. Throughout his career he grew chickens for Mountaire Farms and served in a variety of positions, including President of the Delaware Farm Bureau and Sussex County Recorder of Deeds. He passed away back in August at the age of 94.

“Jim Baxter was a great friend to agriculture and to the State of Delaware,” said Paul Downes, former President and CEO of Mountaire Farms. “He was a man of faith, high integrity and well respected by all who knew him. He loved his family, his friends, and his community. He had the best handshake in the state of Delaware.”

The museum plans to use the donation to implement phased upgrades to their current poultry exhibit, which will include interactive kiosks, three dimensional displays, text and photographic panels focusing on the evolution and importance of the past, present, and future poultry industry in Delaware. The museum also plans to implement educational programs for elementary school children focused on poultry farming.

“The museum is grateful for the very generous donation from Mountaire Farms for improvements to our poultry exhibit and for their recognition of James “Jim” Baxter, one known to all in the agricultural community. This donation will assist us in our mission of educating the public of our agricultural heritage and explaining the vital role that the poultry industry has played in the lives of all Delawareans. It is the goal of the exhibit to underscore the important historical role of the poultry industry in Delaware and we are excited to begin improvements through this generous gift,” said Grier Stayton, President of the Delaware Agricultural Museum Board of Trustees.