KANSAS CITY, MO. — Vice President and General Manager at Seaboard Foods, Guymon, Okla., Rick Sappington always worked hard and strove for excellence throughout his life regardless of his place — from sports to work and everything in between. With a work ethic instilled in him from his father, a Navy Seal, and mentorship from important people in his life, Sappington embraced the climb to his position today.

Throughout his journey, Sappington embraced the work and learned from various mentors and experiences and instills those qualities in the people he manages. Building relationships and believing that failure is an integral part of success has propelled him through his career, and he uses those things to propel others through their careers.

As the MEAT+POULTRY magazine 2024 Operations Executive of the Year, Sappington embodies hard work, honesty and transparency in not only his work and management but in his day-to-day life. Read about Rick Sappington and his journey to vice president and general manager of Seaboard Foods in the upcoming September issue of MEAT+POULTRY.