ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US — BioZyme’s Stockyard plant in St. Joseph, Missouri, US, was named the 2024 Feed Facility of the Year by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and Feedstuffs. 

The annual award recognizes a feed facility with an outstanding commitment to quality, safety, productivity, regulatory compliance, employee development and customer relations.

BioZyme, an animal nutrition and microbiology company, traces its roots to 1951. Founded by Larry Ehlert, BioZyme began as Ehlert’s Guaranteed Feeds with just a $2,500 loan and a small feed store in St. Joseph. Today, BioZyme’s product line includes high-quality vitamin, mineral and protein supplements enhanced with Amaferm, a natural prebiotic. Under the management of Cody Jensen, the Stockyard plant produces 31,000 tons annually. The company plans to host a special event with employees on Oct. 31 to celebrate the achievement.

“We were extremely impressed with the BioZyme Stockyards facility, as it is evident that the company and its staff exemplify the core values of the Feed Facility of the Year program,” said Gary Huddleston, director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs at the AFIA. “The plant is a shining example of manufacturing excellence in the animal food industry.”

Lisa Norton, president of BioZyme, said the company was honored and humbled to be chosen for this recognition.

“Our team believes in care that comes full circle — in other words, if we use care in all that we do, it will come back and allow us to be continuously improving for the industry we all love and are proud to serve,” Norton said.

The AFIA and Feedstuffs also congratulated the following US facilities in the 2024 Feed Facility of the Year program:

  • Westway Feed Products, Houston, Texas — semi-finalist, highest liquid feed facility score and highest sustainability score.
  • Western Milling, Goshen, California — semi-finalist and highest commercial dry facility score.
  • Mountaire Scotland County Feed Mill, Maxton, North Carolina — semi-finalist and highest integrator facility score.
  • Kent Nutrition Group, Marshall, Missouri — semi-finalist.
  • Quality Liquid Feeds, Comstock Park, Michigan — semi-finalist.
  • Wenger Feeds, Muncy, Pennsylvania — semi-finalist.
  • Kent Nutrition Group, Bow, New Hampshire — highest safety score.
  • Kent Nutrition Group, Logansport, Indiana — highest quality and food safety score.
  • BioZyme Stockyards Facility, St. Joseph, Missouri — highest productivity and efficiency score.

The AFIA has been recognizing facilities with the award since 1985.

New for 2024, all proceeds from the FFY program are donated to the EMC scholarship fund, which is administered by the Institute for Feed Education and Research and provides scholarships to college students seeking careers in the feed industry.