54 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 8 Proud Past, Promising Future Sunset Farm Foods Celebrating 100 Years In 1918, Walter W. Carroll began selling two sides of beef a week to a local market in Valdosta. It was his determination and entrepreneurial spirit that eventually became Sunset Farm Foods, a company that is celebrating 100 years in business. Continuing the family tradition, James D. Carroll Sr., began working for his father in 1932, followed by his two sons, James “Jimmy” Carroll, Jr., and Walter “Bo” Carroll II, in 1965 and 1971, respectively. Representing the fourth generation, Tom Carroll now serves as president and CEO of the company his great-grandfather started. Tom returned to Valdosta in 1997 to help his father, Jimmy, manage Sunset Farm Foods, which now has approximately 140 employees. “After college, I worked for eight years in the computer industry,” said Tom, who graduated from Duke University with a degree in computer science and economics. “I got a call from my dad giving me Continuing a family tradition, Jimmy Carroll, Jr., began working in the family business in 1965. His son, Tom Carroll, now manages Sunset Farm Foods, which is celebrating 100 years in business. MILESTONES In the early years we sold meat to independently owned grocery stores. These were what you would call ‘mom and pop’ stores, most of them were about the size of a convenience store today. - JIMMY CARROLL