Meet Mitzi
Mitzi Perdue has had a lifelong fascination with what it takes to lead the best life. She got to watch up close and personal how her father co-founded and was President of the Sheraton Hotel chain, and she also got to watch how her late husband, Frank Perdue, built his father-and-son chicken company into a company that today employees 21,000 people.
Both men had tremendous focus, they had a penchant for action, and they had wide-ranging interests which led them to see opportunities that others missed. They were also men who developed tremendous talent stacks, and when they needed to learn a new skill, they made the time and took the effort to learn the new skill.
Mitzi’s professional career includes being a former rice grower, past presidency of the 40,000 member American Agri-Women, and as a writer, in the 1990s, her nationally syndicated column, “The Environment and You,” was the most widely syndicated environmental column in the US.
Mitzi holds degrees from Harvard University and from George Washington University, is a past president of the 40,000 member American Agri-Women and was one of the U.S. Delegates to the United Nations Conference on Women in Nairobi. She currently writes for the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents and for Psychology Today, plus her work has appeared in publications including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Examiner, the Epoch Times, and USA Today.
As a war correspondent, Mitzi has visited Ukraine three times as the guest of the Kyiv Region Police. Many of her interviews were conducted in bomb shelters while the cities she was visiting were under active attack. In December of 2022, she auctioned her Atocha emerald engagement ring for $1.2 million, with all the proceeds going to benefit Ukraine.
She was a syndicated columnist for 22 years, and her weekly environmental columns were distributed first by California’s Capitol News and later, by Scripps Howard News Service, to roughly 420 newspapers. For two years she was a Commissioner on the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
Mitzi also produced and hosted more than 400 half hour interview shows for Mitzi’s Country Magazine on KXTV, the CBS affiliate in Sacramento, California. In addition, she hosted and produced more than 300 editions of Mitzi’s Country Comments, which was syndicated to 76 stations. Her radio series, Tips from the Farmer to You, were broadcast weekly for two years on the Coast to Coast Radio Network.
Affiliations
Decorated Eggs
Her egg decorating hobby began in1993 when a back injury kept her housebound and unable to walk for almost a year. She was looking for a hobby to make the time pass, and it occurred to her that since people called Frank “the Chicken Man,” it would be fun to be “The Egg Lady.”
Writing
When Mitzi is not on stage speaking to audiences about success tips, family business, and company culture—she indulges her love for writing. Mitzi’s years of experience as an author has produced 27 books, hundreds of articles and blogs, and continues to result in engaging story-telling magic that turns success goals into reality for people everywhere.
Frank's Biography
Immerse yourself in the story of Frank Perdue, as told by his loving wife, Mitzi Perdue. Mitzi takes her readers on a journey of the many lessons Frank imparts during his life and career. This tale of a one-of-a-kind American entrepreneur is not only a biography, but a business book that shows entrepreneurs how to follow their path to success. For more information, including excerpts, click here or visit the store
Autobiography
After her sister challenged each of the five siblings to write memoirs for their grandchildren—and for each other—Mitzi took pen to paper. The result, I Didn’t Bargain for This, is an intimate look at Mitzi’s life as the daughter of one of America s greatest entrepreneurs and the wife of a chicken magnate. For more information or to purchase your copy, Click Here.
Environmental Columns
During Mitzi’s 22 years as a syndicated columnist, she wrote first for California’s Capitol News and then for the Scripps Howard News Service. To browse through and read her articles, Click Here.
Philanthropy Columns
Mitzi describes her columns on philanthropy as a “labor of love”. Using her extensive writing experience, she told stories of various charities—giving staff and volunteers a public pat on the back—and letting people know how they could help. To read her articles, Click Here.
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News
Mitzi has a strong understanding of complex scientific and mathematical concepts and has produced and hosted more than 400 interview shows, often in conjunction with scientists at the University of California at Davis. See a sample of what she has written for GEN: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.
Academy of Women's Health
Mitzi keeps audiences up to date on what’s new in women’s health in the official blog of the Academy of Women’s Health. See her most recent posts here.