Written by: Gary Huddleston | March 4, 2024
Most of us enjoy performing an act of kindness that benefits others. Whether it’s spending time working at a local charity or simply donating to a cause, we get a warm feeling when we help others. Rarely do we have the opportunity to do something that truly brings personal benefit as well as benefit to others. With the Feed Facility of the Year (FFY) program, we’re doing it now, which is a win-win for the industry.
The American Feed Industry Association’s Production Compliance Committee (PCC) recently approved changes to the AFIA FFY program, sponsored by Feedstuffs, that will create one of those unique win-win situations. If you are an industrial manufacturing facility whether a commercial dry feed manufacturer, liquid feed manufacturer, integrator feed manufacturer or a premix/ingredient manufacturer, you have the opportunity to participate in a program that will benefit your facility as well as our beloved which feed industry. .
One of the best kept secrets within our industry is the AFIA Equipment Manufacturers Scholarship Fund. The AFIA Equipment Manufacturers Committee (EMC) started this fund many years ago. Through EMC’s fundraising efforts and collaboration with the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), the fund has grown exponentially, and now seven, $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually to college students who are looking for careers in the feed industry. EMC is very passionate about continuing to grow the scholarship fund and increasing the number of scholarships awarded annually. The feed industry will benefit when we educate more future workers.
At its fall meeting, PCC voted to partner with EMC on a plan to raise more money for the scholarship fund. Beginning in 2024, all proceeds from the FFY program will be donated to the EMC Scholarship Fund. The purpose of the committee is to provide funding for two or more additional annual scholarships. To accomplish this goal, the committee decided to slightly increase the application fee, which is quite a bargain considering now both scholarship programs will benefit as the facilities get a benchmarking report on how they stacked against other industry facilities in employee safety, food quality and safety, government compliance, housekeeping, productivity and efficiency, sustainability, employee development, and community and customer relations. Meaningful benchmarking is a great way to move your facility toward continuous improvement.
The PCC has made several other changes to the 2024 program. While AFIA will continue to use the four distinct applications used in the past (ie, commercial dry, liquid feed, integrator, premix/ingredient), the association will return to awarding a general FFY. We will also continue to recognize other special recognition. AFIA will return to presenting the overall award on-site at the winning facility, allowing the company’s employees and community to be part of the celebration.
So, here’s a win-win. For a small fee, you can participate in a program that will help you improve your facility and donate money to a scholarship fund that benefits the future of our feed industry. Where can you find such a deal? Why not commit to participating in the program in 2024?
Learn more about the FFY program and apply now before April 12!
