Petfood Forum recently spoke with Adam Sherden, R&D technical specialist for Freshpet. Adam was selected as a First For Forum Ambassador for the 2023 event.
First For Forum is a new initiative that offers pet food professionals who have never attended in the past a chance to attend the show at no cost. Through a nomination process, the First For Forum program received over 100 submissions.
We are pleased to welcome Adam to Petfood Forum on May 1-3, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.
What are you looking forward to the most at Petfood Forum?
Adam: What I’m looking forward to most at Petfood Forum is seeing the booths in the convention center of all the different exhibitors. I think it’ll be cool to learn about what each one does and how they could help my company.
What are you hoping to accomplish at Petfood Forum?
Adam: What I’m hoping to accomplish at Petfood Forum is to network with ingredient suppliers and build relationships with them that I can leverage in my projects.
Which exhibitors are you looking forward to visiting?
Adam: The exhibitors I’m looking forward to visiting are Norpel, Midwest Labs and Smithfield because they are all companies I work with regularly for my job.
Which educational sessions are you looking forward to?
Adam: The educational sessions I’m looking forward to are New developments in processing meat-analog pet foods given by Alexandre Riethmuller and Preserving next-generation pet food given by Sara Cutler, Ph.D. They both sound very interesting and I think they could apply to what I do at my job.
Are you planning to do anything fun while you’re in Kansas City?
Adam: I’m planning on doing a lot of fun things while in Kansas City! I’m planning on going to the World War 1 museum, Waterfall Park and checking out the Kansas City Chiefs stadium. And if there’s time, maybe even Legoland!
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I was born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota. I attended North Dakota State University where I got my degree in food science with a minor in food safety. I worked for 6 years in research and development at a small co-manufacturing plant in Minnesota that made a variety of meat products. In May of 2022 I moved to Mansfield, Texas after accepting a position as a R&D technical specialist at the brand new Freshpet facility in Ennis, Texas where I’m currently working. I’m still trying to get used to the heat in the summers and the no snow in the winters.
Learn more about the other First For Forum Ambassadors