Fourteen years ago, a handful of employees in dry sausage at the Hormel Foods Austin (Minn.) Plant decided to get together on a cold Minnesota weekend for a friendly ice fishing competition along the banks of the Cedar River. The agreement? Five dollars per person, with the money going to the person who caught the biggest fish.
Mark Turvey and Jim Snee, Hormel Foods CEO.
Mark Turvey, a 33-year employee of Hormel Foods and one of the contest’s organizers, had no idea the friendly competition would one day morph into an annual event, drawing hundreds of anglers—young and old—to raise money for cancer research. Now dubbed “Fishing for a Cure,” the contest is part of Austin’s annual Paint the Town Pink festivities and has raised more than $86,000 for cancer research at The Hormel Institute.* Last year alone, Fishing for a Cure raised a record $19,800.
Mark’s positive influence outside of work through involvement with events such as Fishing for a Cure, coupled with his strong work ethic and willingness to help others while on the clock, led to him being named the inaugural Pride of the Jersey recipient at the Austin Plant.
