The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to announce Galen Rokey, of Wenger Manufacturing, Inc., and Michael Panasevich, of Summit Ridge Farms, as the recipients of the 2021 Friend of Pet Food Award. Scott Baker, marketing manager at SEM Minerals, LP, presented the awards today during the AFIA Pet Food Conference, happening virtually in conjunction with the International Production & Processing Expo this week.

The Friend of Pet Food Award recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to support the growth of the petfood industry.

Galen Rokey of Wenger Manufacturing, Inc. received the Friend of Pet Food Award at the AFIA’s 2021 Pet Food Conference.

“Rokey and Panasevich are both truly friends of petfood and we are thrilled to recognize them today,” says Louise Calderwood, AFIA’s director of regulatory affairs, following the announcement of the awards. “Rokey’s creative force has helped foster petfood’s transformation into an industry with high nutrition, quality and sanitary expectations. The global pet food market would simply not contain the current value and scope of choices without Rokey’s dedicated, humble work. His career has been full of petfood advancements for which we are all grateful.”

Rokey is the director of process technology in the companion animal division at Wenger Manufacturing. Rokey’s latest breakthrough is a cutting-edge thermal screw extrusion system that allows petfood companies to cook formulas containing fresh meat levels more than twice the amount previously possible.

Michael Panasevich of Summit Ridge Farms received the Friend of Pet Food Award at the 2021 AFIA Pet Food Conference.

“Panasevich’s passion and life’s work has been to provide the most precise, accurate and scientific data that empowers the industry to develop absolutely the best diets, treats, supplements and products for consumers,” Baker states.

Panasevich is the president and founder of Summit Ridge Farms, the world’s largest independent research facility completely dedicated to supporting the petfood industry. Summit Ridge Farms focuses on petfood testing, providing the industry with reliable research on all types of testing protocols for dogs and cats. Amid the demands of running a business, Panasevich also participates in industry meetings involving petfood, including the Association of American Feed Control Officials feeding trials subcommittee.

For more information on the AFIA visit their website, HERE.