The future of the feed industry lies in the hands of the next generation, and the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Equipment Manufacturers Committee (EMC) is committed to investing in their success. At a hospitality reception on January 27 in Atlanta, hosted by Feed & Grain and WATT Global Media, the EMC raised more than $3,000 for its scholarship fund, reinforcing its dedication to supporting the education of tomorrow's industry leaders.
The annual reception, held during International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) week, contributed to EMC’s growing scholarship fund by holding a raffle ticket drawing for two iPad Airs, provided by Maxi-Lift Inc. This year’s winners were Alan Berndtson, eastern regional sales manager for CompuWeigh Corp., and Marcy Woodward, president of Hayes & Stolz.
From left: Elise Schafer, Feed & Grain, Alan Berndtson, CompuWeigh Corp., Marcy Woodward, Hayes & Stolz, and Lara Moody, IFEEDER.Courtesy Steven Kilger
Beyond its scholarship efforts, EMC advocates for the interests of animal food equipment manufacturers. Its activities include ensuring regulatory compliance with OSHA and EPA standards, sponsoring a national safety sign program, and continuing the development of new safety signs and placement guidelines. The committee also conducts an annual conference and maintains oversight of the Equipment Manufacturers Scholarship Fund.
“The EMC deeply values our partners’ support, which enables us to invest in the next generation of feed industry leaders through scholarships and ongoing educational initiatives,” said Mike Schuster, vice president of Laidig Systems, Inc., and past AFIA board chairman.
IPPE took place January 28–30, 2025 and is the world’s largest trade show for the animal feed, poultry and meat processing industries. It serves as a hub for industry professionals to network, exchange knowledge and broaden initiatives like the EMC scholarship fund.
Supporting education today ensures a stronger, more innovative industry tomorrow. The industry collaboration demonstrated at Feed & Grain’s reception will help shape a bright future for the feed sector.
EMC Scholarship Fund recipient universities grows to 7
The EMC Scholarship Fund encourages students to consider careers in feed or grain sciences. When EMC established the scholarship fund, Kansas State University was the sole recipient. Through the support of many partners, the fund has seen tremendous growth and today provides annually to students at seven universities across the United States. EMC's partnership with IFEEDER began in 2013, increasing scholarships from one to four, with additional awards at North Carolina State University, California Polytechnic State University and North Dakota State University.
By 2019, Auburn University and Iowa State University were added, and in 2024, a seventh scholarship honored former AFIA President Joel Newman at West Virginia University. Programs at each of these universities help address industry challenges, such as sustainability, food security, and technological advancements, making them invaluable to the future of the feed industry.
Five of the seven scholarships are funded by EMC through donations during the annual Equipment Manufacturers Conference's golf tournament, as well as at other attendee-supported events. AFIA member donations help fund the scholarships, as well as contributions through IFEEDER's efforts.
