AFIA Awards 'Servant Leader' Tim Belstra with Distinguished Service Award

AFIA Awards "Servant Leader" Tim Belstra with Distinguished Service Award

October 9, 2025

Contact Cornelia Poku

• The AFIA named Tim Belstra as the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award.

• Tim Belstra has dedicated over 50 years of his life and career to feed research, public education and animal agriculture transparency.

• Belstra accepted the award alongside his wife Marta, with whom he has launched multiple philanthropic efforts for the feed industry.

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Board Chair Dan Meagher, president and CEO of NOVUS, presented Tim Belstra, chairman of the Board at Belstra Milling Co., Inc., with the prestigious 2025 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) at the AFIA Board of Directors meeting, being held this week in Deer Valley, Utah. The DSA honors Belstra's lifetime commitment to the animal feed industry, his unwavering leadership and exceptional contributions.

"Tim's visionary leadership and commitment to education and sustainability has left a lasting impact on our association and the agricultural community," said Meagher. "Tim has consistently worked to strengthen our industry and engage the public with transparency. Tim is a true servant leader whose integrity and innovation embody the spirit of this award."

Belstra's career in feed started early. He joined his family's feed business, Belstra Milling Co., Inc. in 1971 - the same year he earned his bachelor's degree in feed science and management from Kansas State University. Belstra would grow to lead the company with integrity and innovation. Beyond carrying on his family's legacy, Belstra spent his life and career demonstrating a commitment to advancing the entire feed industry.

Belstra became involved with the AFIA, serving as board chair from 2019-20. In this role, he guided the association through a critical period of industry evolution. Subsequently, he served as Board of Trustees chair for the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), championing education and reinforcing the industry's commitment to continuous improvement and public engagement.

Throughout their marriage, Belstra and his wife, Marta, established philanthropic efforts in their Northwest Indiana community that expanded the reach of and access to the feed industry. In 2013, they collaborated with Malcolm and Nick DeKryger to open Legacy Farms, which offers the public a firsthand look at modern pork production. In 2020, the four partnered up to found the Leading Education About Pigs Foundation to share educational tools and classroom resources that inform students about animal agriculture practices.

The Belstras gave back to their alma mater and the place their love story began when they created the Belstra Family Professorship in Feed Science within the Department of Grain Science and Industry. The endowment, established in 2023, invests in the next generation of feed industry leaders and feed science research.

For over 50 years, Belstra has had a servant's heart for the feed industry, reaching and teaching countless others while exemplifying the mission of the AFIA.

Belstra joins only 39 prior recipients of the high honor. The DSA is given to members who have significantly impacted the animal food sector and provided outstanding, long-term support to the AFIA. Learn more about this award and previous winners at afia.org.