Ozarks Profile

Chief executive officer, American Dehydrated Foods Inc., International Dehydrated Foods Inc., Food Ingredients Technology Co., 3801 E. Sunshine. Darr founded ADF, a manufacturer of high-quality dehydrated protein and fat ingredients for the premium pet food and animal feed industries, in 1978. ADF's products are sold nationally and internationally and are produced in two facilities in Missouri, and two others in Alabama and Georgia, respectively. ADF has approximately 280 employees. Darr founded IDF in 1982 with production facilities in Monett. IDF has approximately 110 employees and manufactures mechanically deboned chicken meat which is sold fresh and frozen to manufacturers of hot dogs, luncheon meats and sausage products. IDF also cooks and dehydrates chicken, turkey and beef products, which are sold as ingredients for soups, sauces and gravies. FITCO was founded in 1991 and manufactures dehydrated chicken meat, chicken fat and chicken broth. FITCO's plant operates in Anniston, Ala., and has approximately 125 employees. Darr is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Age: 68

No. of years in Springfield/area: 21

Education: Darr graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in agriculture.

Early career: "After spending two years in the Army during the Korean conflict, I enrolled at SMS. During my junior and senior years, I worked part-time for Henningsen Foods, which operated an egg dehydration plant in Springfield," Darr said. Upon graduation, Darr accepted a full-time job with Henningsen and relocated to Omaha, Neb. He worked for Henningsen until 1974, serving first as quality control manager, then as general production manager and finally as director of technical services. Darr left Henningsen in 1974 and started another company in Jackson, Miss. He was president of that company until 1978, when he sold his interest in it to his partners and returned to Springfield to start ADF in 1978. IDF was founded in 1982 and FITCO in 1991. "All sales, administration and corporate management is performed for all our companies from our office in Springfield where we have approximately 45 employees."

Current projects: "IDF just completed a $5 million expansion to the Monett plant, and ADF recently purchased a plant in Hanceville, Ala.," Darr said.

Management philosophy: "Provide general direction for management personnel and give them the freedom to do their jobs. We share all information with our personnel and have an excellent bonus and profit-sharing plan in place. When our companies do well, our employees do well. I also like to give back to the communities in which we have facilities located."

Spare-time pursuits: Darr enjoys traveling, playing golf and spending time at his family's lake house in Branson and condo in Florida.

Family data: Darr and his wife Virginia live in Springfield, as do his two daughters and stepson with their families. Another stepson lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., with his family.