Shelley Chapman and Betsy Jenkins, employees of Farmers Cooperative, Farmville, recently attended a comprehensive three-day training program designed to qualify retail employees as “FeedMaster Certified Feed Specialist®” for Southern States Cooperative Inc.

According to a press release, the rigorous 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 caring for and 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, veterinarians and Southern States employees were among those conducting technical sessions during the program Chapman and Jenkins 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,” said Rich Schneider, part of the Southern States team that developed the FeedMaster program.