By Blake Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

For 65 years Bush Hog has manufactured its product right here in Selma, and Wednesday the company celebrated that milestone with a birthday bash with its employees.

“We were born right here in Selma, Alabama, in 1951, and 65 years later we’re still here kicking,” said Bush Hog President Jerry Worthington.

The company celebrated with lunch, burying a time capsule and the one thing a birthday can’t go without —cake.

“It’s the folks here that make us or break us, and they’ve been making us for a long, long time,” Worthington said. “It’s good just to get together and celebrate as a family because we win together and we lose together.”

Bush Hog has been through tough times, but Worthington said it has always managed to bounce back and get even better.

“Most companies don’t last this long. They come and go, they run into hard times,” Worthington said. “We’ve been up and down, but we’ve always been able to make it through, and it’s all because of the folks that work here. They’re just a great bunch of people and we find a way to be successful.”

Worthington said 65 years is a long time and it has been an honor to be a part of the community.

Generations of people have worked at Bush Hog, which employs more than 350 people today.

“One thing that’s funny is that it’s hard to walk around town here without finding someone who either hasn’t worked at Bush Hog or doesn’t have a relative who works at Bush Hog,” Worthington said. “Even today we have people that are the third generation of folks who have worked here.”

Employees were given a special 65th birthday shirt, hat and cooler.

“It’s the folks here that make us or break us, and they’ve been making us for a long, long time,” Worthington said. “It’s good just to get together and celebrate as a family.”

During the luncheon, employees were asked to stand. Worthington asked employees to remain standing based on the number of years of service.

One of the last ones standing was Harold Wells, who has worked for Bush Hog for 48 years.

“It means a great deal to me,” Wells said.

“This is really the only job I’ve ever had because I started when I was a teenager going to school during the day and working at Bush Hog at night. To see it survive this long … is amazing.”