The award recognizes Ridley Feed Ingredients’ leadership in feed production, innovation, and customer-focused operations.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and Feedstuffs have selected Ridley Feed Ingredients' facility in Mendota, Illinois, as the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year, recognizing its commitment to manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement.
The honor is awarded annually to a feed facility that excels in critical areas including safety, quality, efficiency, regulatory compliance, employee engagement, and customer relations. The program also generates funding for the AFIA Equipment Manufacturers Committee scholarship initiative, which supports students pursuing careers in the animal food sector.
“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,” Huddleston added.
Led by facility manager Corey LaBarge, the Mendota plant manufactures more than 43,000 tons of packaged feed ingredients and premixes each year. Since its construction in 1960, the facility has undergone extensive modernization efforts to enhance production capabilities and support long-term growth.
The company credits its success to a workplace culture focused on teamwork, operational excellence, safety, and customer service. Employees play a key role in identifying improvements, while management relies on performance metrics and trend analysis to drive decision-making.
“Winning the Feed Facility of the Year award is a tremendous source of pride for our entire team,” said LaBarge. “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. It takes every member of our team working together to achieve this level of excellence, and we are proud to see the hard work recognized by the industry.”
Since 1985, the Feed Facility of the Year program has highlighted best practices in feed manufacturing. Today, it also contributes to scholarship opportunities through the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), helping prepare the next generation of industry professionals.
Facilities Recognized in the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year Program
- Ridley Feed Ingredients, Mendota, Illinois – Overall Winner and Highest Quality & Food Safety Score
- Famo Feeds, Freeport, Minnesota – Semifinalist
- Mountaire Farms, Candor, North Carolina – Semifinalist
- TransAgra International, Storm Lake, Iowa – Semifinalist
- Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Mineola, Texas – Semifinalist
- Western Milling, Goshen, California – Semifinalist and Highest Productivity & Efficiency Score
- Westway Feed Products, Houston, Texas – Semifinalist and Highest Employee Safety Score
Photo Credit: american-feed-industry-association