Several awards were honored during the latest AFIA Board of Director virtual meeting.
Distinguished Service Award
William (Bill) Braman, PAS, formerly of Chr. Hansen Animal Health and Nutrition, was awarded the 2020 Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the feed industry. The award is AFIA’s highest honor and is typically given to the elite members of the U.S. animal food industry who have provided outstanding support to the AFIA and the entire animal food industry throughout their careers.
Braman has been very involved in the AFIA and the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), the latter of which he served as a pioneer trustee and remained on the Board until 2015. During his tenure with IFEEDER, he also served on the budget task force and research committee and played an active role for several years in the silent auction held at the AFIA’s Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conferences. He served on the AFIA Board of Directors from 2011-14, AFIA’s Nutrition Committee for more than a decade, including serving in the officer rotation, and AFIA’s Liquid Feed Committee for five years. He has embraced every project with enthusiasm and a can-do attitude.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Keith Behnke was honored with the AFIA-Kansas State University Feed Manufacturing Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong contributions to the feed industry through business and education. Gary Huddleston, AFIA’s director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs, presented the award to Behnke at AFIA’s fall virtual Board of Directors meeting.
The award recognizes and honors U.S. animal food industry retirees, or those who are no longer serving the industry or allied industries, who have made a significant contribution to the animal food manufacturing business in the U.S. throughout their careers. Individuals are nominated in the areas of business, science and technology. The AFIA and KSU first presented the award in 1995 and only 20 individuals have received the award to date.
Behnke began his career in the industry working as a processing research coordinator at Far Mar Co. in Hutchinson, Kansas. He returned to his alma mater Kansas State University and assumed teaching and research duties in August 1977. Behnke taught courses that addressed basic and advanced feed manufacturing science and ingredient quality. During his career at KSU, Behnke advised over 150 undergraduates, 18 doctorate and more than 20 masters students in feed science. He published many scientific and popular press articles, presented papers at more than 120 conferences and symposia both domestic and abroad, and has visited nearly 50 foreign countries in his capacity as a consultant and member of the department’s International Grains Program.
Behnke retired from the university in July 2010 but has continued to serve on the feed science advisory team, helping to design and construct a new campus feed mill for the Department of Grain Science and Industry.
Member of the year
Cassie Jones, an associate professor in animal sciences and industry at Kansas State University, was named Member of the Year during the AFIA’s fall Board of Directors virtual meeting.
The Member of the Year Award is presented to an AFIA member who exhibits outstanding support in achieving the organization’s goals and objectives throughout the year.
Jones serves as the academic liaison to AFIA’s Nutrition Committee. Serving in this capacity, she has contributed to the successes of committee activities. Together with others assigned to her working group, Jones assembled an outstanding slate of speakers for AFIA’s foreign animal disease educational program, held at the 2020 International Production & Processing Expo. She worked with the group to brainstorm topics, suggest speakers, share contact information and presented the swine biosecurity session.
