ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — The American Feed Industry Association inducted Joe Harris, executive vice-president of Westway Feed Products, into its 2019 Liquid Feed Hall of Fame. The AFIA’s Liquid Feed Committee presented the award — the highest award offered in the liquid feed industry — to Harris at the AFIA’s Liquid Feed Symposium, being held in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

“Dr. Harris has been described as ‘one of the best minds in the liquid feed industry’ for his innovative thinking and knowledge of chemistry that has enabled him to develop many new liquid feed products,” said Rob Brock of Westway Feed Products. “Without a doubt, his teachings and talents have contributed to the development, growth and continued expansion of the liquid feed industry.”

Developed in 2003 and managed by AFIA’s Liquid Feed Committee, this award publicly recognizes and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the science and growth of the liquid feed industry.

Harris is credited with earning seven patents, of the eight he has authored, on methods, treatments and processes used in the feed industry. Perhaps the most notable is the one for the SweetCake tub production technology, which helps ensure targeted and consistent intake of liquid feed with every bite. He also has sought new methods for better utilizing coproducts, such as whey and glycerin, in diets.

This led to the development of new whey stabilization technology, which has made whey a much more user-friendly product by lengthening its storage time. He also served a role in writing the rules for the use of glycerin in animal feeds for the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ Official Publication.

He has been an outspoken communicator, authoring many articles in both U.S. and international publications on the benefits of molasses, liquid feed and coproducts, and speaking to industry groups.

Harris joined Westway Feed Products in 1992 and since then, he has helped grow the company’s U.S. locations from two to 28 across North America. Under his leadership, he also has expanded the company’s product lines and developed products to meet the needs of Westway’s customers across the beef and dairy cattle industries.

Harris has a PhD in animal nutrition from the University of Florida, where he graduated in 1981.

The Liquid Feed Symposium is the country’s largest gathering of liquid supplement leaders in manufacturing, nutrition, quality, sales and marketing. The annual Liquid Feed Hall of Fame award recognizes outstanding individuals in the liquid feed industry, who receive a plaque to commemorate their achievements. There have been only 20 prior inductees.