Over 60 feed industry professionals gathered last week for the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) annual Equipment Manufacturers Conference (EMC), held in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Hosted by the AFIA’s Equipment Manufacturers Committee, this year’s conference embraced the theme, “Winning Strategies for Workforce Protection and Management,” with sessions covering regulatory updates, workplace safety and business strategies.
AFIA’s President and CEO Constance Cullman shared updates on federal policy and industry priorities, while other expert speakers addressed topics such as fall protection, navigating National Fire Protection Association 660 requirements and conducting effective dust hazard analyses.
Additional sessions explored strengthening organizational performance and improving employee communication, giving participants tools to enhance both safety culture and day-to-day efficiency. The program concluded with an engaging panel discussion, where presenters expanded on the week’s key themes and answered questions from attendees.
“The panel’s discussion underscored something we see across the feed industry every day: safety becomes far less intimidating once facilities understand their materials and processes,” said Gary Huddleston, AFIA’s director of feed manufacturing & regulatory affairs. “The panel’s message about bringing clarity to complex systems aligns strongly with AFIA’s work to help manufacturers bridge that gap effectively and confidently.”
Thirty-eight participants teed off in the annual EMC golf tournament, setting a new participation record for the popular event. The tournament and related activities, along with the Thursday night raffle, generated over $5,000 to support the EMC Scholarship Fund, which benefits students pursuing feed manufacturing careers at seven universities.
The winning golf team included Jameson Anding, The Essmueller Company; Nate Bingaman, D1Resources; Ryan Heyer, Heyer Engineering; and Matt Lueger, NorthWind Technical Services, while Johnny Wheat with 4B Components, Ltd. claimed top honors in the putting contest.
Editorial Note: To obtain a high-resolution image for editorial purposes, contact Marisa Halbstein, AFIA’s marketing and program development specialist.
