MFA Incorporated's Aurora, Missouri, feed mill has been named the 2023 Commercial Dry Feed Facility of the Year. The accolade was presented to Trevor Erwin, plant manager, by Gary Huddleston, director of Feed Manufacturing and Regulatory Affairs for American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), during the AFIA’s Feed Education Program at the International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Georgia.
The award recognizes the Aurora Mill for its exceptional commitment to safe and efficient operations in the feed manufacturing sector. Huddleston praised the facility for its unique blend of historical and modern elements, showcasing how it has evolved and adapted to meet the dynamic needs of the industry.
Constructed in two phases, with the south tower built in the 1960s and the north tower in 1999, Aurora Mill has embraced automation and modernization over the years. Notably, the south tower has been equipped with newer equipment, enhancing its operational capabilities. The mill, which produces approximately 40,000 tons of feed annually, is multifaceted, catering to multiple species. It is certified to manufacture medicated feed and holds a Safe Feed/Safe Food certification. The facility's efficiency is partly attributed to its three pelleting systems, complemented by the recent addition of an advanced pellet cooler that has significantly improved both capacity and quality.
The AFIA has been celebrating excellence in feed manufacturing since 1985 through its Feed Mill of the Year program. In 2016, the program expanded to recognize facilities across different categories, including liquid feed, commercial dry, premix and ingredient, and integrator. Each category now awards its own Facility of the Year. The 2023 Commercial Feed Facility of the Year award had other notable semi-finalists, including Kent Nutrition Group from Logansport, Indiana, and Marshall, Missouri, and Western Milling from Goshen, California.
This achievement by MFA Incorporated’s Aurora Mill not only marks its excellence in the field but also underscores the evolving landscape of the feed manufacturing industry, where innovation and adaptation are key to success.