Hopke earns Feedmaster certification

Ruth Hopke, a Feed Sales & Tech Representative from Charles City, has attended two comprehensive three-day training programs designed to qualify her as a “FeedMaster Certified Feed Specialist®” for Southern States Cooperative, Inc.

The training program is tied to the Southern States’ FeedMaster program and is designed to augment the existing knowledge base of employees involved in advising the co-op’s customers on issues related to feeding various types of animals. The program provides new and updated information and qualifies for continuing education units (CEUs) by the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS), a national organization that certifies animal scientists through examination.

Professors from land grant universities in the Southern States service area, industry nutritionists and veterinarians were among those conducting technical sessions during the program Hopke attended.

“With all the research and new developments occurring, animal owners need and want the best possible counsel on feed nutrition and feed solutions in general,” says Rich Schneider, part of the Southern States team that developed the FeedMaster program. “FeedMaster programs instill knowledge in our people, so that we can truly provide people who know.”

Founded in 1923, Southern States is a Richmond-based farm supply and service cooperative that now has more than 200,000 farmer-members. One of the nation’s largest agricultural cooperatives, Southern States provides a wide range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed and pet food, animal health supplies and petroleum products, as well as other items for the farm and home. The cooperative serves its members and non-member customers through 1,200 retail outlets. Please visit http://www.southernstates.com for more information. Southern States – farmer owned since 1923.