Q&A with Ashlee-Rose Ferguson

We sat down with AAFCO Board Secretary and Treasurer, Ashlee-Rose Ferguson.

Why did you first get involved with AAFCO?

My boss at the time was Dr. Ali Kashani, who was and still is involved in AAFCO. I was interested to learn more, and Ali encouraged it. My first AAFCO meeting was actually a Feed Administrators Seminar in Gettysburg, PA. I thought that event was so well thought out and planned and the people were passionate, friendly, and welcoming. The first Annual or Midyear meeting you attend can be a lot because there’s so much going on but it’s not too difficult to pick up on the fact that AAFCO has a deliberative and collaborative structure for solving or preventing problems. So, I wanted to help on things where I saw a need or a gap. By my second deliberative meeting, I believe I came home with at least three workgroup assignments and haven’t regretted it since.

How has AAFCO contributed or played a role in your career?

As I was selected for Ali’s position after he retired, I knew AAFCO was there to provide this huge network of experts from every stakeholder group. I always learn something new at every AAFCO event that I am then able to bring back and apply it to my state.

What’s one thing you’d like to say to encourage members to get involved?

Every state that has animal feed laws, 49 out of 50 states, have some level of AAFCO model bill, regulations and ingredient definitions adopted. That means every state should be involved and have a voice. Animal food is a growing sector and has been predominantly interstate commerce for decades. AAFCO is the best mechanism to become more harmonized and modernized to better protect animal food safety and consumer protection. Being involved in AAFCO expands your impact. It does so much for your professional development, increases leadership skills, and builds your network.

What do you hope to see for AAFCO in the next 5 years?

Regulation should not be created in a bubble. AAFCO allows for all sectors to come together to develop standards for regulations and solve or prevent problems continuously and collaboratively through the years. I’d like to see increased awareness, understanding, and engagement of AAFCO with even more productivity and modernization.

Tell us about the pets or animals in your life.

Currently, I have three cats: Koca is an all-gray elusive creature who makes you earn her love. She is also known as the princess of darkness and pretty girl. Luna is a cream calico and if you give her chin scratches, you are friends for life. She is also known as Luna bee and butterball turkey. Mickey is a black and white talkative boy with a partial mustache. He is also known as cow-cat-fish and Mickey Doodle. We also have an almost two-year-old dog, Pepper, who is half rough collie, half German shepherd, and all energy. She is obsessed with meeting humans and other animals – think Doug from the movie “Up.” Throughout my life I have had the privilege to care for all kinds of animals including horses, turtles, guinea pigs, I even reared insects. I’m glad I get to do what I do for them.