The American Feed Industry Association named Ridley Feed Ingredients' Mendota, Ill., facility as the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year. The annual award recognizes feed facilities that demonstrate excellence in quality, safety, productivity, regulatory compliance, employee development and customer relations.
"Ridley Feed Ingredients' Mendota team has built a culture where safety, quality, operational excellence and customer satisfaction are part of everything they do," said Gary Huddleston, AFIA's senior director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs. "Their strong employee involvement in continuous improvement and use of data to guide decision-making demonstrate the kind of leadership and commitment to excellence that this award is designed to recognize."
Led by facility manager Corey LaBarge, the Mendota facility produces more than 43,000 tons of feed ingredients and premixes annually for multiple animal species. The facility, originally built in 1960, has undergone numerous upgrades to support its operations and growth. All tonnage produced at the site is packaged.
"Winning the Feed Facility of the Year award is a tremendous source of pride for our entire team," LaBarge said. "This recognition reflects the commitment our employees bring to the facility every day, from maintaining high standards for safety and quality to continuously looking for ways to improve our operations."
The AFIA also recognized six semifinalists: Famo Feeds in Freeport, Minn.; Mountaire Farms in Candor, N.C.; TransAgra International in Storm Lake, Iowa; Wayne-Sanderson Farms in Mineola, Texas; Western Milling in Goshen, Calif.; and Westway Feed Products in Houston, Texas.
The AFIA has recognized excellence in feed manufacturing through the program since 1985. Since 2024, proceeds have supported the Equipment Manufacturers Committee scholarship fund, which provides scholarships to college students pursuing careers in the animal food industry.
