Poultry Feed Mill

Marissa Beasley

Home: Savannah, GA

MSU Poultry Science Alumna – 2020 (BS) and 2022 (MS)

“The new feed mill will benefit the department from an educational standpoint by allowing students to gain a hands-on approach with the equipment. It will also enable the department to continuously improve research techniques and opportunities with state-of-the-art equipment that is also being used in the poultry industry.”

Cade Davis

Home: San Antonio, TX

Current MSU Poultry Science Student (BS) Undergraduate Research Assistant

“Having had the opportunity to spend a summer interning at a feed mill, I've learned the importance of pellet quality and how it can have a major effect on broiler performance. A new feed mill here at Mississippi State would allow us to conduct research at the highest level and not only improve bird performance in our trials, but the industry as well.”

Jorge Urrutia

Home: Guatemala

Current MSU Poultry Science Student Graduate Student (MS Degree)

“A new feed mill will help me learn more aspects of poultry nutrition as well as feed manufacture which I hope to take some time back to my country Guatemala.”

Jace Welborn & Anna Katheryn

Home: Laurel, MS & Fayetteville, AR

Junior & Senior Poultry Science Major

"This past Fall semester, we were granted the opportunity to conduct an undergraduate research trial through the MSU Poultry Department. From formulating the diets to processing, we were there every step of the way with an exception of manufacturing the feed. By the addition of a feed mill at the MSU Poultry Research Farm, this will provide hands-on learning experience for students pursuing their future endeavors in the poultry industry."

This feed mill has been designed and planned with input from the Mississippi State Feed Mill Advisory Board

View schematics & equipment list

Donations

Stay updated with the current donation goals.

We are closing in on our fund-raising goal. We hope to secure gift agreements by December 31, 2025, and fulfillment of gift pledges by December 31, 2026, to close the remaining funding gap. While $1.5M is still a significant amount, this is the closest we’ve ever been to making the feed mill a reality. We’re optimistic that a clear plan, proposals, and increasing industry support will help us get across the finish line.

Donate Now!

Board of Directors

Feed Mill Advisory Board – Est. March 2020

Comprised of ~25 representatives from 15 poultry and feed related companies including: Aviagen, Cal-Maine Foods, CPM, Essmueller, Hayes & Stolz, Jesco Inc., Mid-South Milling, MS Power, Peco Foods, Pilgrim’s, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Tucker Milling, Tyson Foods, WL Port-Land

Primary Goal: Help define and prioritize current and future MSU Poultry Feed Mill needs and goals in order for the Poultry Science Department to better serve the Poultry and Feed Manufacturing industries in Teaching, Applied Research, and Outreach

Feed Mill Advisory Board: Executive Committee - Est. May 2025

Primary Goal: Utilize members of the feed mill advisory board and others with feed manufacturing expertise (not employed by feed mill equipment companies) to critically evaluate feed mill project proposals received in May 2025; outline proposal strengths and weaknesses, while considering original project goals defined by the broader Feed Mill Advisory Board, as well as current fundraising and realistic expectations

Name	Employer	Position
Jeremy Emmerson	Cal-Maine Foods, Inc	Director Feed Mill Operations
Andy Bishop	Kalmbach	Vice President of Operational Excellence
Thomas Robinson	Koch Foods	Feed Mill Manager; Morton, MS
Ron Robertson	Mississippi Power Company	Account Manager – Pipelines/Industrial
Ron Robertson	Mississippi Power Company	Account Manager – Pipelines/Industrial
Steve McLaurin	Peco Foods	Live Operations Special Projects Manager
Billy Perkins	Peco Foods	Feed Mill Manager; Lake, MS
John Wilson	Tyson Foods	Feed Mill Operations Specialist
Brad Tipton	Pilgrim's	Director of Quality Assurance Feed Mills
Dr. Joe Moritz	West Virginia University	Professor of Poultry Science State Extension Specialist, Feed Manufacture and Nutrition
Darrin Poole	Wayne-Sanderson	Corporate Manager, Feed Mill Quality Assurance