Exhibit 10.1

            BOB EVANS FARMS, INC. COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR DIRECTORS
                        ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE MAY 8, 2006

EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' RETAINER
All members of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), who are employed by the Company or one of
its subsidiaries ("Employee Directors") shall be paid a cash retainer of $1,200
per month ($14,400 annually). The cash retainer shall be paid on or before the
first of each month.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' RETAINER
All directors of the Company who are not employed by the Company or one of its
subsidiaries ("Non-Employee Directors") shall be paid a cash retainer of $2,000
per month ($24,000 annually). The cash retainer shall be paid on or before the
first of each month.

Each Non-Employee Director shall receive an annual grant of 2,500 restricted
shares of the Company's common stock on the date of the June meeting of the
Compensation Committee of the Board. Non-Employee Directors cannot sell or
otherwise transfer these shares for a period of one-year after the shares are
issued. These shares shall be awarded out of and in accordance with the
Company's First Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (or
any subsequent equity compensation plan approved by the Company's stockholders).

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD RETAINER
The Chairman of the Board shall be paid a cash retainer of $5,750 per month
($69,000 annually) in addition to the Non-Employee Directors' retainer described
above and any other compensation to which the Chairman may be entitled under
this Director Compensation Program. The Chairman's retainer shall be paid on or
before the first of each month.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' BOARD MEETING FEE
Each Non-Employee Director will be paid $1,500 per Board meeting attended. All
Board meeting fees shall be paid on or before the first day of the month
following the Board meeting.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' COMMITTEE FEES
Each fiscal year, each Non-Employee Director is expected to attend approximately
five regularly scheduled meetings of the committees of the Board on which he or
she serves. Committees of the Board shall meet as the business requires.

The following table shows the fees to be paid to Non-Employee Directors for each
meeting of a committee of the Board attended:



                     Board Committee                    Committee Member Fee         Committee Chairperson Fee
                     ---------------                    --------------------         -------------------------
                                                                                      
Audit Committee                                                $1,750                         $3,000
Compensation Committee                                         $1,500                         $2,500
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee                  $1,000                         $1,500


All meeting fees shall be paid on or before the first day of the month following
the committee meeting.



SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS
Non-Employee Directors who undertake special projects and assignments at the
request of the Chairman of the Board shall be compensated on a per diem basis at
a rate of $1,000 plus expenses.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' BENEFITS
The Company shall maintain a $50,000 life insurance policy for each Non-Employee
Director.

Group healthcare is provided at employee cost levels in accordance with the
Company's group healthcare plan.

Out of pocket expenses associated with travel to and from meetings of the Board
and its committees.

DIRECTOR RETIREMENT
Mandatory Retirement: Any director who reaches the age of 70 shall automatically
retire.

Early Retirement: A director may retire with 10 years of service after attaining
age 55.

TERM AND EFFECT
This Compensation Program for Directors will be reviewed periodically by the
Compensation Committee of the Board. The Compensation Committee shall recommend
any changes it deems necessary to the Board. The Board may modify or terminate
this Compensation Program for Directors in its discretion at any time. This
Compensation Program for Directors is effective as of May 8, 2006 and supersedes
all previous director compensation plans of the Company.