The Montana Feed Association (MFA) represents the Montana feed industry and needs participation from all segments of business. We maintain a strong relationship with the Montana Department of Agriculture and the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA). These relationships allow the MFA to have a strong influence in the legislation and rule setting that governs our industry on both the state and national level.
Each quarter, we send out a newsletter called the “Concentrates” to keep our members informed. We are always interested in news items. The MFA Annual Meeting is the highlight of the year and offers a quality program with topics centered around the interests of feed dealers, manufactures, and suppliers to the livestock industry.
Our Story
Established in 1969, the purpose of the Montana Feed Association was to promote and cultivate good will among manufacturers, dealers and producers. Today, we maintain that mission by providing an opportunity for manufacturers and dealers to hear experts on subjects related to the feed business, such as marketing, sales, merchandising, livestock nutrition and customer service.
Our actions always reflect the interests of our members, not any particular company. One of the pleasant aspects of the Montana Feed Association is working together with normal day to day competitors, but with competition left at the door. Many life long friendships are formed through this association.
Our Officers
Dawn Schooley - President
Dawn Schooley has been a Territory Manager for Alltech since 2016. Dawn works with feed reps, companies, dealers, and producers to educate and assist livestock producers in making valuable nutrition decisions. Dawn has spent the last 24 years of her career working throughout Montana, Wyoming and Idaho in animal health and nutrition. Dawn is certified as a Professional Member of ARPAS; Professional Animal Scientist (P.A.S.) and has received several other certifications and honors throughout her career. Dawn holds her degrees in Animal Science from Montana State University. Dawn and her family reside in Worden, MT.
Michelle Whiteside - Vice President
Michelle Whiteside graduated from Texas A&M in 2006 with a BS in Animal Science. She began her foray into the livestock world while in college, where she worked as a research assistant on a project studying fetal alcohol syndrome using sheep as the test subjects. After graduation, she moved to Montana and worked as a research associate for the beef extension specialist at Montana State University. She went on to become the Quality Control Specialist for Westfeeds, a Montana based livestock feed company. Duties at Westfeeds included running the quality control program as well as assisting the nutritionist with feed formulations and cattle and sheep rations. Michelle is now a Livestock Feed Formulator for Simplot Western Stockmen’s. Other roles she has held include serving for 14 years on the Montana Feed Association board of directors and 5 years on the Montana Noxious Weed Seed Advisory Board as the Feed Industry Representative. Michelle and her husband live in Eastern Montana on his family’s cattle and sheep ranch, with their two wonderful children.
Katie Yost- Secretary/ Treasurer
Tillie Goddard - Past President
Directors:
Josh Stroh
Josh is passionate about the Beef industry and has a unique background beneficial for helping beef producers be successful in reaching their full potential. Whether it be a seedstock, cow-calf, or feedlot operation, Josh can help provide sound nutritional and management advice to reach production goals. Josh owns and operates a small cow-calf business and heifer development yard with his wife and family. He is also very involved in youth ag development programs, and enjoys all things outdoors dealing with livestock or wildlife. Josh attended Colorado State University earning a B.S. degree in Animal Science, afterwards achieving a Master of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While at UNL, he also coached the University Livestock Judging Team. Josh has a very diversified background in the Beef business. Following graduate school, he worked in the embryo collection and transfer business, was a professor and department head of the Agriculture Program at Miles Community College, and managed a cow-calf operation in central Montana. He started his career with Hubbard Feeds as an account manager before moving to his current role in Beef Technical Services covering Montana and northern Wyoming.
Cathy Lockard
Zac Wald
Justin McPherson
Todd Daniels
Membership
Every member is vital to sustaining an effective organization. Your dues allow the organization to continue its commitment to the feed industry in Montana. The funds raised through membership and industry sponsorships are used to provide scholastic scholarships. Funds are also used to cosponsor (along with the Montana State University) the Montana Nutrition Conference meeting held in Bozeman, Montana every year in April where the scholarships are awarded.
We award two scholarships to MSU Undergraduate students who have been interviewed by MFA members. One scholarship is awarded to an animal science major in honor of Dr. John Paterson; the second is awarded to a student in the Ag Marketing field with emphasis in Agri-Business.
Montana Feed Association Membership Benefits
Association with leaders in the feed industry
Montana Legislative representation
National representation through AFIA
Training: nutrition, customer service, Finance, Industry issues, dealer issues, feed regulations & compliance
Concentrates- quarterly newsletter
Association with Leading Feed Suppliers
Interaction with MSU Extension
Interaction with MSU College of Agriculture
Involvement in the Benefit of Future AG Leaders/ Employees through the MFA Scholarhsip Program
Networking and lifelong Friendships with like minded individuals