EXHIBIT 24.1 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Joel W. Johnson his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to that Registration Statement with respect to shares of common stock issuable under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, 2000 Nonemployee Director Stock Option and Award Plan and Nonemployee Director Deferred Stock Plan of Hormel Foods Corporation, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. SIGNATURE /s/ Joel W. Johnson Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Joel W. Johnson Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) /s/ Gary J. Ray Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Gary J. Ray Executive Vice President and Director /s/ Eric A. Brown Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Eric A. Brown Group Vice President and Director /s/ David N. Dickson Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- David N. Dickson Group Vice President and Director /s/ Michael J. McCoy Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Michael J. McCoy Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director (principal financial and accounting officer) /s/ John W. Allen Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- John W. Allen Director /s/ John R. Block Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- John R. Block Director /s/ William S. Davila Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- William S. Davila Director /s/ E. Peter Gillette Jr. Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- E. Peter Gillette Jr. Director /s/ Luella G. Goldberg Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Luella G. Goldberg Director /s/ Geraldine M. Joseph Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Geraldine M. Joseph Director /s/ Joseph T. Mallof Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph T. Mallof Director /s/ John G. Turner Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- John G. Turner Director /s/ Dr. Robert R. Waller Dated: July 24, 2000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Robert R. Waller Director