The company was founded by Earl B. Olson in 1940, when he began raising turkeys.

In 1949, he bought the former Farmers Produce Company of Willmar and its turkey processing plant.

[2] Wallace Jerome also played a role in the formation of the current Jennie-O organization.

[3] The company was privately owned by the Olson family until 1986, when it was sold to Hormel Foods, of Austin, Minnesota.

[5] The Minnesota locations include Willmar/Spicer, Faribault, Montevideo, Pelican Rapids, and Melrose.