FREMONT, NEB. — Wholestone Prestage recently announced on LinkedIn the retirement of Jere Null, the chief operating officer for the company, after working in the pork industry for more than 35 years.

Over the last decade, Null worked on the company’s Eagle Grove, Iowa, pork processing plant and oversaw operations at the Fremont, Neb., facility.

"This is probably the best 10 years of my entire career. There's just no doubt about it," Null said.

John Prestage, chief executive officer of Prestage Farms, delivered remarks about Null and expressed appreciation for Null creating the operational and cultural foundation at the Eagle Grove facility.

"This guy knows operations, and he knows people,” Prestage said. “He knows how to build a team, has a motivation...look at the success you had, this team out here doing what we all try to do best."

During the ceremony, Null thanked his wife, Ann, for her support through 12 moves during his 30 years working in the pork processing industry.

Luke Minion, Wholestone Prestage CEO, also shared his gratitude for the leadership Null provided to the company.

"There's a simple saying in life: when a student is ready, a teacher appears," Minion said. "Jere has been one of those teachers for me."

Wholestone Prestage said Null would remain with the company over the next 18 months and serve as a board advisor.

In 2023, Wholestone Farms and Prestage Foods of Iowa announced a joint venture to combine hog processing operations.

Ryan McCarthy is the digital media editor for MEAT+POULTRY. He has been at Sosland Publishing Company since 2016, covering the industry and managing the digital media channels of the publication. He also writes and edits web stories, images, videos and podcasts about the meat industry. McCarthy has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.

Connect with Ryan McCarthy on LinkedIn or via email.