One of the things I enjoy most about summer is the opportunity to catch up on reading that often gets pushed to the back burner during busy meeting seasons. It was a treat, this summer, to read a collection of articles on the University of Illinois farmdocdaily site and consider how macroeconomic trends might be shaping the future of U.S. food and agriculture.
What if you could foresee challenges and prepare for them? At the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), we are doing just that—anticipating opportunities for the feed and pet food industry and adapting swiftly to overcome obstacles to doing business in today’s global marketplace.
We often look at the calendar and lament, “Where has the time gone?” At other times, it seems like so much time has passed because we can only marvel at how much has changed and how different the world is. In the case of the last five years, both feelings resonate with me.
Summertime is always when I tell myself I am going to catch up on reading (work-related and personal) and a couple of weeks ago, my flights were cancelled. I could not do the work travel as planned, which left a lot of open time on my calendar. Put these two together and I spent a bit of time reading an article from earlier this year in the Journal of Dairy Science, “Fifty Years of Environmental Progress for United States Dairy Farms.”
It is difficult to believe that my tenure as the American Feed Industry Association’s Board chair has ended. In some ways, it feels like I just got started and have more goals to accomplish. However, as I look back on this experience, I am appreciative of all that I learned, of the friendships made, and of the incredible staff and Board members that I was fortunate enough to work alongside. Over the course of my years in the feed industry, the AFIA played a significant role in my development and understanding of our landscape and potential future. Besides the current staff and Board, I owe a debt of gratitude to all the past employees and members who have shaped our organization. It has been my great honor to represent the AFIA as Board chair, and I hope I was able to repay some of what AFIA has offered me over the years.
As I begin my tenure as Board chair of the American Feed Industry Association, I find myself filled with a mixture of excitement, anticipation and a healthy dose of humility. I am thankful to be following Carlos Gonzales, Ph.D., of Hills Pet Nutrition. Carlos has set an excellent leadership example, and he has been very considerate in sharing key AFIA insights to prepare me for the challenges in the upcoming year.ouy
Last week, the American Feed Industry Association had the honor of thanking those who have greatly impacted our industry in a positive way. The group and individual who received awards represent the ‘best of the best,’ exhibiting amazing expertise to help the AFIA achieve its goals and objectives and making significant contributions to animal feed.
Millions of years ago, horses digestive systems evolved to continuously consume large amounts of fibrous forage while they moved from place to place at a steady pace. But in an era when few horse owners can mimic this natural diet and supporting behavior, and many horses require extra nutrients for their training regimen or aging bodies, the use of specialized fractions of whole grains is essential for owners who look to provide balanced diets that will maintain their horse’s health and productivity. As I heard at a recent conference, technology, functionality and transparency are key elements to consider when including these ingredients in equine diets.
I am delighted to share that the American Feed Industry Association has hired its first marketing and program development coordinator, Taylor Lekin, who will be responsible for marketing AFIA’s events, products and services, and supporting the communications efforts of AFIA’s 501(c)(3) public charity, the Institute for Feed Education and Research. A recent Iowa State University graduate, she hails from a farm family, and has experience writing professionally and analyzing agricultural policy issues. She exudes positive energy and a passion for helping the agriculture industry thrive, and I know she will bring creative new ideas to AFIA. Learn more about her below and meet her at the upcoming International Production & Processing Expo!
Continuing my blog series on industry leaders, here’s another mover and shaker: Nath Morris. Recently, Nath was named president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY), after serving as USPOULTRY’s executive vice president of expo for nine years. I became acquainted with Nath through the American Feed Industry Association’s partnership with USPOULTRY on the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), in which I have been having 7 a.m. calls every Friday for years with both Nath and our partners at the Meat Institute. Let’s just say, making 7 a.m. calls every week, we got to know each other very well! Below , you will find the highlights of our conversation.