Bob Burgdorfer, who covered the livestock markets for Reuters out of its Chicago bureau, is leaving the news agency.
Here is his farewell message:
Twenty six years ago Chicago bureau chief Chuck Kershner interviewed me for a Reuters job—I didn’t get it, Vicki Allen did (who was a great hire), but he promised to call me if a job opened. A year later it did in Chicago, he offered and I took it. I have had a ball ever since.
After working for a number of dailies—I really enjoyed hearing sources say “It’s Reuters!” when I called. That name got attention and still does. What a rush!
Like many of my talented and supportive colleagues, I will leave today. Stay in touch.
Burgdorfer covered the cattle, hog, and poultry markets as well as the meat processing companies, such as Tyson Foods, Smithfields Foods, JBS, Pilgrim’s Pride and Sanderson Farms. His coverage included meat exports, animal diseases and government regulations that affect the meat industry.