I have been blessed to work with many dedicated professionals who have enlightened or mentored me during my career in agriculture policy. Dr. Paul Sundberg is one of those individuals who has been there from the beginning when I started as an intern in Washington, D.C., with the National Pork Producers Council. Our paths continued to cross as I moved to work for different species organizations and luckily, it continued here in the feed industry.
I am delighted to share that the American Feed Industry Association has hired its first policy communications specialist, which will be vital in helping our legislative, regulatory and policy team better communicate members’ priorities to key policymakers. Madison Wyman is a recent graduate of Furman University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in politics and international affairs and communication studies last May. She has broad government affairs and communications experience and a passion for advocacy, as evident in her recent move to Washington, D.C. Learn more about her below.
Continuing my blog series on industry titans, here’s another mover and shaker: RB Halaby. RB retired from AgriCapital a few years ago, but his love for agriculture still shines through even in retirement. Every few months, RB sends an email to me about an article he’s read or something he saw that he felt the American Feed Industry Association needed to be aware of. I really got to know RB through his involvement with the AFIA’s Board of Directors. He also received the 2021 AFIA Distinguished Service Award for his continual support of the animal food industry and all of agriculture. Below is our conversation.
Continuing my blog series on industry titans, here’s another mover and shaker: John Starkey. John has been the president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY) for the last 16 years, after serving as USPOULTRY’s vice president of environmental programs for seven years. Prior to that, he worked a number of years in the poultry industry for Gold Kist and Hudson Foods, where he served as director of environmental affairs. I really got to know John through the American Feed Industry Association’s partnership with USPOULTRY on the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). Below is our conversation.
Today, the American Feed Industry Association released our annual, “Our Industry, Our Promise” report, detailing the operational challenges facing today’s animal feed and pet food manufacturers at the global and international levels. It also discussed the ways the AFIA is addressing those challenges head-on, while laying the groundwork for a prosperous future for our members and association into the future.
Having been with the American Feed Industry Association for many years, I have the honor to work with some of the most interesting and amazing leaders in the animal food industry. While I’m happy for them as they near retirement, I’m also sad to see them go. Here’s an interview with one such titan of the industry, Scott Druker, Ph.D. Scott is currently the general manager for the animal and food production division at Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production. I really got to know Scott when he served as chair of the AFIA Board in 2020-21. Below is our conversation.
I am honored and humbled to begin my tenure as chair of the American Feed Industry Association’s Board of Directors. I have learned a great deal from the past chairs I have been fortunate to work with and want to specifically recognize and thank Mike Gauss, Kent Nutrition Group, for his leadership over the past year and counsel in the coming one!
It is with a heavy heart that I end my time as chair of the AFIA Board. This trepidation is not due to any doubts about the new leadership, but simply, because I will deeply miss working with the exceptional individuals who make up this organization. I have full confidence in the abilities of Carlos Gonzalez and Leigh Ann Sayen, who will undoubtedly provide outstanding leadership. Furthermore, I am pleased to note that the association is blessed with a highly talented staff, occupying key positions, ensuring that our industry and members will be well represented for years to come.
The year was 1909. In a Chicago meeting room, owners of businesses growing an animal food industry discussed the increasing body of regulations governing the sector at both the federal and state levels. They understood the need to coordinate and stay informed of how these regulations were developing and formed an organization, which today is the American Feed Industry Association. Simultaneously, state agencies realized that together, they could develop standards, definitions and policies for the enforcement of feed laws that promoted uniformity. Thus, they created the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
The two organizations have been working together ever since.
At the American Feed Industry Association, we take our promises to members very seriously. Hear from animal food industry peers on how the AFIA best exemplifies its Four Promises to members and how you can benefit from them.