ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) honored Richard Rawlings with its 2015 Distinguished Service Award for his life-long contributions to the feed industry and to AFIA. Rawlings received the award Oct. 27, at the AFIA board of directors’ dinner in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

The Distinguished Service Award is AFIA's highest honor, given to only 31 individuals since 1981. The award recipients are elite members of the U.S. feed industry that have, throughout their careers, provided outstanding support to AFIA and the entire feed industry.

Rawlings retired from the Agri Beef Company as president of PerforMix Nutrition Systems, a subsidiary of the Agri Beef Company. He was responsible for the design and construction oversight for the PerforMix Nutrition Systems' U.S. production facilities in Nampa, Idaho, Moses Lake, Washington, and Garden City, Kansas.
Rawlings has been a longtime supporter of the liquid feed industry and displayed active involvement in both AFIA's liquid feed committee and liquid feed symposium. Rawlings has a patent for the Regulated Liquid Feed Delivery System and is credited for developments in the processing efforts of liquid feed.

"In 2004, Richard was inducted into the AFIA liquid feed hall of fame for his dedication and advancements in liquid feed," said Joel Newman, AFIA president and chief. "He has demonstrated to be a monumental advocate for the liquid feed industry and this award is well deserved."

Rawlings' award history with AFIA dates back to 1994 when he was the recipient of AFIA's member of the year award. He received the award following his co-chairmanship of the working groups that petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to rewrite its outdated medicated liquid feed rules.

"AFIA's presence in the liquid feed industry and our close working relationship has proven to be a great resource during my career," he said. "I am pleased to have worked with a group that has assisted me in spearheading innovations in liquid feed."
 
Rawlings earned his bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Idaho.