The American Feed Industry Association and Feedstuffs have named Ridley Feed Ingredients’ facility in Mendota, Illinois, the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year.
The annual award recognizes feed facilities that demonstrate excellence in areas including quality and safety, productivity, regulatory compliance, employee development and customer relations. Proceeds from the program also support the AFIA Equipment Manufacturers Committee scholarship fund, which invests in the education and development of future animal food industry leaders.
Under the leadership of facility manager Corey LaBarge, the Mendota facility produces more than 43,000 tons of feed ingredients and premixes annually for multiple animal species. Originally constructed in 1960, the facility has undergone numerous upgrades to support its operations and continued growth. All feed produced at the facility is packaged.
The Mendota team has developed a culture centered on employee safety, quality, operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Employees participate in continuous improvement initiatives, while the facility uses key performance indicators and trend analysis to guide data-driven decision-making.
Other facilities recognized in the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year program include Famo Feeds in Freeport, Minnesota; Mountaire Farms in Candor, North Carolina; TransAgra International in Storm Lake, Iowa; Wayne-Sanderson Farms in Mineola, Texas; Western Milling in Goshen, California; and Westway Feed Products in Houston, Texas.
Ridley Feed Ingredients’ Mendota facility received the highest quality and food safety score. Western Milling was named a semifinalist and received the highest productivity and efficiency score, while Westway Feed Products was a semifinalist and received the highest employee safety score.
The AFIA has recognized excellence in feed manufacturing through the Feed Facility of the Year program since 1985. Participating facilities receive benchmarking reports that compare their performance with industry peers and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Since 2024, proceeds from the program have supported the Equipment Manufacturers Committee scholarship fund, administered through the Institute for Feed Education and Research. The fund provides scholarships to college students pursuing careers in the animal food industry.
Source: American Feed Industry Association, "Ridley Feed Ingredients' Mendota Facility Named 2026 Feed Facility of the Year"