News Release

For Immediate Release

International Production & Processing Expo

Atlanta, Ga. - October 22, 2024


Contacts:
Victoria Broehm, 703.558.3579, vbroehm@afia.org, (AFIA)
Sarah Little, 202.587.4263, slittle@meatinstitute.org, (Meat Institute)
Hannah Keck, 678.514.1979, hkeck@uspoultry.org, (USPOULTRY)

2025 IPPE Announces Young Leaders Under 30 Honorees

The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is pleased to announce the 2025 Young Leaders Under 30 honorees. The Young Leaders Under 30 Award recognizes emerging leaders in the industry. The award offers recipients a chance to gain visibility at the world’s largest annual trade show focused on the production, packing and processing of meat, poultry and egg products, as well as animal feed and pet food.  

The 2025 IPPE Young Leaders Under 30 Award honorees are as follows:

• Sarah Ballard, Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC
• Ryan Baltrus, OSI Group
• Lesleigh Beer, Simmons Pet Food
• Alea Belflowers, Ralco Nutrition
• Bradi Bohlke, Ag State
• J'len Buffington, Perdue Agribusiness
• Nelson Coates, Case Farms
• Gilberto Contreras, Claxton Poultry Farms
• Charlie Coufal, Cal-Maine Foods
• Jerri Dumke, Buckhead Meat of Florida 
• Audrey Flett, American Foods Group
• Katlyn Garcia, Mountaire Farms
• Phoebe Gray, Rose Acre Farms
• Doster Harper, Rose Acre Farms
• Josh Holler, Instinct Pet Food
• Corey Hurst, Swaggerty Sausage Co.
• Tyler James, Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC
• Jessica Johnson, Tyson Foods, Inc. 
• Rebecca Jones, Aviagen Inc.
• Neena Kao, Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC
• Victoria Kucera, Perdue Farms
• Madison Mann, Clemens Food Group
• Marissa Montez, Western Milling LLC
• Laura Motsinger, Hill's Pet Nutrition
• Ashling Murphy, Mountaire Farms
• Brandon Myers, FPL Food
• Mary Parent, Perdue Farms
• Taylor Price, Simmons Foods
• Zymec Ramsey, Perdue Farms
• Bobby Sanders, PECO Foods 
• Robert Schrecongost, Perdue Foods
• Joseph Sonderman, Greater Omaha Packing Co.
• Joy Sparks, Pilgrim's
• Davis Swenson, Fieldale Farms Corporation
• Tyler Trussell, Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC
• Abby Turner, Fieldale Farms Corporation
• Kallie Unowsky, OSI Group
• Diamond Watson, Harrison Poultry

The IPPE team would like to thank all applicants for participating in the Young Leaders Under 30 Award application process. “It is important that we recognize and acknowledge the visionaries of tomorrow’s global animal food and protein industries,” remarked IPPE management.

The selected recipients will enjoy complimentary access to the Expo, IPPE-assigned complimentary hotel accommodations for Tuesday and Wednesday nights, access to all non-fee-based educational programs and registration for one paid educational program offered at IPPE. They will also receive a VIP tour of the trade show floor breakfast with a keynote speaker, a plaque recognizing their status as a "Young Leader" presented in the Discovery Zone Booth B43023 on the Expo floor at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, and complimentary registration to the 2026 IPPE.

Mark your calendars to join us in honoring the rising stars in the poultry, egg, meat and animal food industries!

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ABOUT IPPE
The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is a collaboration of three shows - International Feed Expo, International Meat Expo and the International Poultry Expo - representing the entire chain of protein production and processing. The event is sponsored by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the Meat Institute and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).

ABOUT AFIA 
Founded in 1909, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), based in Arlington, Va., is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal food industry and its suppliers. The organization’s membership is comprised of more than 650 domestic and international companies that represent the total feed industry—manufacturers of commercial and integrated feed and pet food, ingredient suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, industry support and equipment manufacturers. AFIA members manufacture more than 75% of the feed and 70% of the non-whole grain ingredients used in the country. AFIA is also recognized as the leader on international industry developments and holds membership in the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF).

ABOUT the Meat Institute 
The Meat Institute represents the full community of people and companies who make the majority of meat American families rely on every day. The Meat Institute’s hands-on regulatory and technical expertise, proactive advocacy, unique convening power, collaboration within and beyond animal agriculture, and sector-leading continuous improvement initiatives drive relationships and resources that ensure meat continues to be a vital, trusted pillar of healthy diets and thriving communities for generations to come. To learn more, visit MeatInstitute.org.

ABOUT USPOULTRY
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is the all-feather organization representing the complete spectrum of today’s poultry industry, whose mission is to progressively serve member companies through research, education, communication and technical assistance. Founded in 1947, USPOULTRY is based in Tucker, Ga.

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