ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) hosted its 20^th annual Equipment Manufacturer Conference (EMC) in Marco Island, Florida, U.S., with more than 70 industry professionals in attendance. This year’s conference focused on sound operating today to ensure a bright future.

The conference discussed issues affecting the future of operating and the industry, including the fixed ladder requirements in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) walking-working surfaces standard, international feed machinery standards, adopting best legal practices for human resources and “breaking boundaries for operating excellence.”

“What we do today can greatly affect the future of our industry,” said Gary Huddleston, director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs at the AFIA. “By being proactive in participating in these issues that affect our industry, we ensure the future of the equipment manufacturing industry.”

Thirty-one conference attendees also took part in the annual four-person scramble golf tournament, which raised more than $3,800 to support the EMC scholarship fund. Administered by the Institute for Feed Education and Research, this fund raises money for college students pursuing careers in the feed or grain sciences industries. The AFIA recognized the first-place winners of this year’s tournament: Paul Phillips of Maxi-Lift Inc./Southwest Agri-Plastics, Inc.; Mike Gauss of Kent Nutrition Group, Inc.; Joel G. Newman of AFIA; and Gary Huddleston of AFIA.

Conference attendees also heard from industry leaders on some of the current policy issues, including updates on what is happening in Washington, D.C., U.S., and international trade.

The 2020 EMC will take place Nov. 4-6, 2020, in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.