PANSY - While the Cater family took over what was previously Batesville Poultry back in January, the Caters waited until this past Friday to formally introduce Premiere Poultry Supply, Inc. to the community and local growers with a grand opening at their store at 15260 Hwy. 63 in the Pansy community.Jason and Sara Cater, along with their sons Weston and Tanner, all of the Monticello area, were on hand for the event that featured a variety of vendors as well as free lunch for those attending.Batesville Poultry was started in Batesville, Ark., by Cleveland County native Johnny Trucks. Eventually, Batesville Poultry grew to include a store in the Pansy community as well as in Pocahontas in northeast Arkansas. Jason Cater said the purchase of the company included all three locations.Cater said acquiring Batesville Poultry was a natural fit with his existing businesses, all of which are related to agriculture. He has a poultry farm and also raises cattle. In addition, he has about 300 acres of row crops. He said all of his farming operations are in Drew County.After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Cater received a degree in veterinary medicine from Mississippi State University, specializing in large animals. He returned to Monticello working mostly with cattle before he started receiving calls from what was then England Farms at Rison. He said England Farms wanted him to inspect and test their poultry so their hatching eggs could be shipped internationally. He said that relationship has continued even after Jamaica Broilers bought the company from the Jack England family in 2013. England Farms has since been renamed International Poultry Breeders. In addition, Cater said he tests poultry for OK Foods since their locally grown poultry is shipped to Mexico.Eventually, Cater said that led him to start a business that tests and moves birds from pullet to hen houses for all local poultry companies.&nb...
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