FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — MAY 2, 2013 — Purina Animal Nutrition announced it has received the Industry Partnership Award from Colorado State University’s Department of Animal Sciences. Given annually at the department’s Spring Branding Banquet, the award recognizes companies that support the university’s faculty and students as they pursue their mission to develop leaders in the horse and livestock industries. Purina was recognized on April 12, 2013, for its sponsorship of the Legends of Ranching program, which helps students understand the entire process of training and selling horses.

“Purina has played an important part in the development of the Legends of Ranching program at Colorado State University,” said Dr. Jerry Black, DVM, Wagonhound Land and Livestock Chair in Equine Sciences. “We are grateful for their support of our Equine Sciences Program, the leadership role they play in the equine industry and the shared goal to develop future leaders of the equine world.”

The Legends of Ranching program gives students an opportunity to train young horses and put them through sale at the university. As a six-year consignor, Purina has given two dozen students the chance to learn about training and selling horses by breeding and raising horses for the program at its Purina Animal Nutrition Center.

“We’re honored to be recognized by a forward-looking animal science program like that at Colorado State University,” said Mike Jerina, Equine Department Manager, Purina Animal Nutrition. “Facilitating the development of future stewards of the horse and agricultural communities is very important and a responsibility Purina takes seriously. These partnerships not only benefit academia, but our industry as well.”

The Industry Partnership awardee is selected each year by the faculty of the Department of Animal Sciences. Part of the department’s mission is to focus on developing industry leaders and improving profitable production of horses and food animals through the application of science and technology, resource management, and food product enhancement. It addresses societal issues concerning food safety, product quality and value, animal care and management, and environmental impacts of animal agriculture.