Byron's Babbles

After a week of working with schools in Tennessee this past week I had the chance to visit an iconic agricultural food manufacturer yesterday. I spent time in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee with the great people of Bush Brothers & Company – home of Bush’s^® Best. Now, I have to admit I was most intrigued to learn more about the dog mascot ‘Duke’ than anything else, but who isn’t? To touch on that, it all started in 1996 when Jay Bush became spokesperson and he turned to his dog for emotional support. It was decided that Jay would tell Duke the family secret recipe for Bush’s^® Best. Story has it he actually whispered it in the dog’s ear. I was also told that Duke was not fond of acting, so a dog actor, named Sam, was hired and ‘Duke’ was born. I’m sure there is a lot more to the story, but what a stroke of marketing and branding genius.

Speaking of genius – in the company’s incredible Bush’s^® Visitor Center, General Store and Museum I was able to stand on the scale and find out how much I weighed in beans. 255,600! By the way – You should put this on your list of places to visit. Check out the picture here of the “Only The Best Beans Become Bush’s” exhibit. This was only one of many great educational displays.

“PLUS THERE’S LOTS OF
SWAG WITH MY MUG ON IT.” ~ Duke

Now, back to some of the leadership takeaways from spending the morning with these fine folks. Bush Brothers & Company a special place to work. Firstly, the company has a rich history and strong family values. It was founded in 1908 by A.J. Bush, and today it is still family-owned and operated. This sense of heritage and tradition creates a unique and welcoming atmosphere for employees.

Additionally, Bush Brothers & Company is committed to fostering a positive work environment. They prioritize employee satisfaction and invest in their development through training programs and growth opportunities. The company also offers competitive compensation and benefits packages to attract and retain top talent. I loved that they have even built their manufacturing facilities with windows for bringing in sunlight. We know this is a promising practice, but not everyone does it. Things like this are what I call loving your employees.

“Roll that beautiful bean footage!” ~ Jay Bush

Furthermore, the company is dedicated to giving back to the community. They have various initiatives and partnerships in place to support local communities and charitable organizations. This commitment to social responsibility can create a sense of pride among employees, knowing that they are part of a company that makes a positive impact.

Overall, the combination of a strong family culture, employee-focused policies, and community involvement makes Bush Brothers & Company a special and rewarding place to work. I know I am just barely scratching the surface, but there is so much more to this company than meets the eye. The great part is that none of it is a secret, except the family recipe. I tried, but no one would tell me!