Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes John Bekkers and Michael A. Stimpert, or each of them, as attorney-in-fact to sign in his behalf, individually and in his capacity as a director of Gold Kist Inc., and to file with any federal or state authority Gold Kist’s annual report on Form 10-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any amendment to such report.

Signature		Title		Date
/S/    DOUGLAS A. REEVES       Douglas A. Reeves		Chairman of the Board		July 23, 2004
/S/    JEFFERY A. HENDERSON       Jeffery A. Henderson		Vice Chairman of the Board		July 23, 2004
/S/    WALTER C. DOCKERY       Walter C. Dockery		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    CHRISTOPHER D. FANNON       Christopher D. Fannon		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    DORMAN K. GRACE       Dorman K. Grace		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    FRED W. GRETSCH, JR.       Fred W. Gretsch, Jr.		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    BILLY G. MEEK       Billy G. Meek		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    CHARLES H. MORRIS, JR       Charles H. Morris, Jr		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    PHIL OGLETREE, JR.       Phil Ogletree, Jr.		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    DAN SMALLEY       Dan Smalley		Director		July 23, 2004
/S/    W. A. SMITH       W. A. Smith		Director		July 23, 2004