Sanderson Farms’ feed mill located in Collins, Mississippi has been named the 2017 Feed Facility of the Year. Co-sponsored by the American Feed Industry Association and Feedstuffs, the Feed Facility of the Year award recognizes overall achievement in feed manufacturing operations. “Sanderson Farms demonstrates excellence in each of the areas the Feed Facility of the Year program measures,” said Joel G. Newman, AFIA President and CEO. “They quickly rose to the top of this year’s competition, and we are happy to present the company with this award.” To date, only 32 facilities have received this industry best practices honor. The Feed Facility of the Year award recognizes Sanderson Farms’ commitment to safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and employee development. According to AFIA, Sanderson Farms’ work to increase employee engagement and promote morale also factored into the award decision. “Sanderson Farms employees are included in daily conversations about safety and encouraged to offer their suggestions for improvements,” said Bill Bray, plant manager of the Collins facility. “The company’s training programs allow supervisors to assist employees by providing personal attention.” The Feed Facility of the Year award highlights the Collins facility’s overall operating efficiencies. As one of Sanderson Farms’ eight feed mills, the facility produces more than 400,000 tons of poultry feed each year. Sanderson Farms, Inc., founded in 1947, is engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared chicken items. Employing more than 14,000 employees in operations spanning five states and 14 different cities, Sanderson Farms is the third largest poultry producer in the United States. As a company, Sanderson Farms is committed to adopting a fresh approach in everything that we do. Not only where products are concerned, but companywide as well. Though the company has grown in size, it still adheres to the same hometown values of honesty, integrity and innovation that were established when the Sanderson family founded the company back in 1947.