The American Feed Industry Association has presented Tim Belstra, chairman of the board at Belstra Milling Co., Inc., with its prestigious Distinguished Service Award for 2025, recognizing his lifetime commitment to the animal feed industry.
The award was presented by AFIA Board Chair Dan Meagher, president and CEO of NOVUS, during the association's board of directors meeting being held this week in Utah.
"Tim's visionary leadership and commitment to education and sustainability has left a lasting impact on our association and the agricultural community," Meagher said. "Tim has consistently worked to strengthen our industry and engage the public with transparency. Tim is a true servant leader whose integrity and innovation embody the spirit of this award."
Belstra's career in the feed industry began in 1971 when he joined his family's business after earning a bachelor's degree in feed science and management from Kansas State University. He would go on to lead the company with what colleagues describe as integrity and innovation.
His service to the industry includes a term as AFIA board chair from 2019-20, during which he guided the association through what was described as a critical period of industry evolution. He later served as Board of Trustees chair for the Institute for Feed Education and Research, where he championed education initiatives.
Belstra and his wife, Marta, established several philanthropic efforts in Northwest Indiana designed to expand public understanding of modern agriculture. In 2013, they collaborated with Malcolm and Nick DeKryger to open Legacy Farms, offering the public firsthand views of modern pork production. In 2020, the four partners founded the Leading Education About Pigs Foundation to provide educational tools and classroom resources about animal agriculture practices.
The couple also established the Belstra Family Professorship in Feed Science within the Department of Grain Science and Industry at their alma mater, Kansas State University. The endowment, created in 2023, supports the development of future feed industry leaders and feed science research.
Belstra becomes just the 40th recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes members who have significantly impacted the animal food sector and provided outstanding, long-term support to the AFIA.
