SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 7, 2018

SANDERSON FARMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Mississippi	1-14977	64-0615843
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
127 Flynt Road Laurel, Mississippi		39443
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(601) 649-4030

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 7, 2018, David Barksdale was elected to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Sanderson Farms, Inc. (the “Company”), effective August 7, 2018. He will serve as a Class A director until the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2019 and will, if re-elected at that meeting, serve for a term expiring in 2020. There are no understandings or arrangements between Mr. Barksdale and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Barksdale was elected as a director. There are no relationships between Mr. Barksdale and the Company that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

The Board expects to appoint Mr. Barksdale to one or more committees of the Board at a later date. The Company will file an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K to report any such appointment within four business days after the information is determined or becomes available.

As a non-employee director, Mr. Barksdale will participate in the non-employee director compensation arrangements described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 16, 2018.

Section 7 — Regulation FD

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 7, 2018, the Registrant issued a press release regarding the matter referenced above. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2, the information contained in this Item 7.01 and the attached Exhibit 99.1 is being “furnished” to the SEC and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under such section. Furthermore, such information shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated therein by reference.

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) The following exhibits are furnished with this Current Report:

Exhibit     No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated August 7, 2018.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit     No.	Description
99.1	Press release of Sanderson Farms, Inc. dated August 7, 2018.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

SANDERSON FARMS, INC.

(Registrant)

Date: August 8, 2018	By:	/s/ D. Michael Cockrell
		D. Michael Cockrell Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer