BEF Foods President Inducted into Ohio State's Animal Sciences Hall of Fame

The Ohio State University's Department of Animal Sciences has inducted Mike Townsley, president of BEF Foods, a subsidiary of Bob Evan Farms, Inc., into the Animal Sciences Hall of Fame.

Townsley earned his induction into the Hall of Fame through his continued leadership in the agribusiness community. A 1981 graduate of The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences, Townsley distinguishes himself in his career as an innovator in the field of meat science, processing and marketing. 

Townsley joined Bob Evans Farms as president and COO of Owens Foods, then Owens Country Sausage in 2003, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bob Evans Farms since 1987.

BEF Foods, Inc. is a leading producer and distributor of pork sausage and a variety of complementary homestyle convenience food items under the Bob Evans and Owens brand names.

Prior to joining Bob Evans, Townsley was SVP of sales and marketing for Premium Standard Farms in Kansas City from 1997 to 2003. His prior experience includes three years at Smithfield Packing Company of Smithfield, Va., and 11 years with IBP Inc. of Dakota City, Neb.

Townsley currently serves on the American Meat Institute (AMI) board of directors' executive committee. Previously he has served on the board of directors of the National Pork Producers Council, the Colorado Beef Board, on the Packer Processor Industry Council for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), and on AMI's Pork Committee.

Townsley comes from several generations of farmers in the Xenia, Ohio area. He and his wife Jane currently reside in Columbus, Ohio, with their three children.