Planters Peanuts celebrates 35 years in Fort Smith, donates food

story by Aric Mitchell
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Kraft Foods and Planters Peanuts celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Fort Smith plant on Wednesday at an onsite, invitation-only event. Taking center stage were 15 employees who have worked at the plant since it went into operation in January 1976.

At a special ceremony, the company honored the following employees for more than 35 years of service: Bill Naegle, John Mask, Ken Mitchael, Allen Gibson, Gary Looney, Earl Mann, Ava Gates, Wendy Jones, Belinda Odom, Joe Brodie, Darla Lefevre, Kenny Brown, Richard Bartmier, Ruth Slandard, and Rodney Andrews.

“In 1975, I learned Planters was coming to Fort Smith. It was our family’s natural choice in peanuts, so it sounded like a really good place to work,” said John Mask, the stockroom coordinator at the Fort Smith facility. “I started in maintenance, but since then have worked under many hats. One thing I’ve noticed about Planters is that we’ve always managed to become a role model in our company enterprise, and I believe we’ve achieved that here. The ways of manufacturing have changed so much, and the company has always had the best technology. Planters has demonstrated dedication to producing safe product and quality employees, and this plant has put forth a lot of effort in doing so. I’ve enjoyed my 35 years here, and I look forward to many more.”

Mask began working at the plant on Sept. 9, 1975, just one day after Bill Naegle, who is the longest tenured employee at the facility. Mask, Naegle, and their 13 co-workers were honored with a proclamation from Gov. Mike Beebe, presented by Becky Thompson, the deputy director of Global Business for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Additional proclamations were given from Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, Rep. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith and Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders. The new Planters Nutmobile was also on hand as part of its nationwide “Naturally Remarkable” tour to help celebrate the event.

“Thanks to all of the people, who work at Planters, and thanks particularly to the ones, who’ve been here for 35 years. Many don’t realize the contributions that this company and its employees make to the area. With your work in the United Way, Partners in Education, and the Fort Smith Symphony, as well as the individual contributions that many of you make as scout leaders, church leaders, and in the payroll each of you spend in the area, you are a marvelous corporate citizen,” Mayor Sanders said.

While area political leaders were honoring the 105-year old company for its presence in the River Valley, Planters made a formal announcement that it would donate a large but undisclosed sum of food items to area victims of the recent tornadoes and flooding, with shipments being delivered to Ozark and Altus.

To close the formal part of the celebration, plant manager Lisa Grenier led attendees to the official groundbreaking of a new 33,000-square foot extension to the existing plant. A cookout followed to honor all of the close to 350 employees that work for Planters in the River Valley.