Key facts
- Ridley Feed Ingredients' Mendota, Illinois facility was named the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year.
- The award recognizes excellence in operations, quality, safety, productivity, regulatory compliance, employee development, and customer relations.
- The Mendota facility produces over 43,000 tons of feed ingredients and premixes annually.
- The facility, originally built in 1960, has undergone numerous upgrades to support operations and growth.
- Corey LaBarge is the facility manager at the Mendota location.
Ridley Feed Ingredients' facility in Mendota, Illinois, has been honored as the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and Feedstuffs. This annual award celebrates facilities that demonstrate outstanding performance across various operational aspects, including quality and safety, productivity, adherence to regulations, employee advancement, and customer service.
The Mendota facility, which was originally constructed in 1960, has implemented numerous upgrades to accommodate its operations and ongoing expansion. Under the management of Corey LaBarge, the facility is responsible for producing over 43,000 tons of feed ingredients and premixes each year for a variety of animal species. All of the feed produced at this location is packaged.
Gary Huddleston, AFIA's senior director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs, highlighted the Mendota team's culture of safety, quality, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. He noted their strong employee involvement in continuous improvement and their use of data for decision-making as key factors in their recognition.
Other facilities recognized in the 2026 Feed Facility of the Year program include Famo Feeds, Mountaire Farms, TransAgra International, and Wayne-Sanderson Farms, all of whom were semifinalists. Ridley Feed Ingredients' Mendota facility also received the highest score for quality and food safety.