AFIA Celebrates 100 Years, Debuts New Logo and Commemorative Keepsakes
The American Feed Industry Association has kicked off its Centennial Celebration with the unveiling today of a new logo designed to draw attention to AFIA’s history and mission. The logo that will be used by AFIA beginning today includes the key years of 1909 and 2009.
“Our new logo highlights the various important features of today’s American Feed Industry Association, while giving a nod to our substantial history,” said Joel G. Newman, AFIA president and chief executive officer. “We’re excited to let the world see our new logo as it helps us tell the story of why we believe AFIA is strong today and will be even stronger tomorrow.”
The highlight of AFIA’s Centennial Celebration is a one-of-a-kind program scheduled for March 11, 2009. The program will occur at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Fla., the site of the Spring Forum and Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference. The program will feature a luncheon and the debut of a 13-minute film, “The Promises Live On,” which was produced to mark the occasion. Farm broadcasting legend Orion Samuelson will emcee the program, and he provides the film’s narration. The film looks at the people, issues and events that contributed to the association’s success over 100 years.
A keepsake hardcover book is another important element of AFIA’s Centennial Celebration. The 112-page book, “Delivering On Our Promises: AFIA Celebrates 100 Years,” includes an attractive blend of text and photos to recall the organization’s history and foreshadow its future success. The book and film are companion commemoratives, and they were produced as a result of generous contributions by member-companies and industry veterans.
The books and DVD versions of the film will be available for purchase by the public beginning this month. A book may be purchased for $50, and a DVD for $15. A set of the book and DVD together may be purchased for $60.
In addition, AFIA has designed Centennial Celebration ads that will appear in industry publications beginning this month.
AFIA acknowledged the voluntary assistance provided by the design team at Alltech Inc., of Nicholasville, Ky., in the development of the new logo.
There have been only a handful of logos in AFIA’s history. The immediate predecessor to the latest logo is a blue-and-white logo in use since 2000; a logo nearly identical to it first appeared in 1985.
Historical documents indicate the first AFIA logo appeared in the 1940s. That black-and-white logo was round in shape, and it featured a feed plant, a sheaf of grain and three animals. The name of the organization, then known as the American Feed Manufacturers Association, was arrayed in a circle around the image.
The second logo appeared in 1958 to coincide with the 50th anniversary. That logo prominently featured the letters, “AFMA,” against a backdrop of a scroll of paper and a stalk of grain. The organization’s full name also appeared in the oval-shaped logo. A stained-glass image of this logo may be found in the small conference room in AFIA’s office; the “AFMA” letters appear in yellow against a bluish-green backdrop in this decorative object.
In the 1970s, the logo that was unveiled in 1958 was altered slightly. The “AFMA” letters continued to appear with a scroll of paper and a stalk of grain, but the oval-shaped backdrop disappeared. This logo was used until 1985.
