The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has awarded Calvin Ross Hamilton, Ph.D., its 2024 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his significant contributions and leadership in the animal food industry. Sarah Novak, AFIA’s chief operating officer, presented the award to Hamilton during the AFIA Board of Directors reception on Wednesday night.
The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by AFIA, given to elite members of the U.S. animal food industry who have demonstrated exceptional support to AFIA and the broader industry throughout their careers.
“Hamilton is a visionary leader who anticipates potential consequences, identifies long-term implications, and formulates practical plans to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities,” said Novak. “His contributions have made a profound impact on the industry as a whole and organizations within, like AFIA and the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER).”
Hamilton recently retired from a 26-year career at Darling Ingredients, where he served in various roles, including vice president of government affairs, related technology, and biosecurity, overseeing quality assurance and product safety teams. Prior to joining Darling Ingredients, Hamilton was a swine research extension specialist and associate professor at South Dakota State University.
His involvement with AFIA and IFEEDER has been extensive, serving on AFIA’s Board of Directors and as a founding trustee for IFEEDER, where he served on the Board for 11 years.
Beyond his career achievements, Hamilton has significantly contributed to the animal feed and rendering industries through leadership in several professional organizations, including the American Society of Animal Science, the U.S. Animal Health Association, the North American Renderers Association, and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture. He has played a crucial role in advisory capacities, task forces, work groups, and international forums, representing industry interests and authoring over 150 scientific papers and publications.
Hamilton earned his doctorate in animal science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his bachelor's and master's degrees in animal science and animal nutrition from Texas Tech University.
For a high-resolution image of Calvin Ross Hamilton, contact Taylor Lekin, AFIA's marketing and program development specialist.
