Purina Mills Research Center is celebrating its 75^thyear of operation in 2001. The research center went into operation on January 1, 1926 in Gray Summit, MO. Since that date, literally thousands of research experiments have been conducted and hundreds of Purina products have been developed, tested and continually improved. Purina Mills has the world’s most complete animal nutrition research center of its kind in the world.

Where would Purina Mills be today without Purina Research?

Besides the development of feeds and feeding recommendations, Purina Research has pioneered in the area of livestock and poultry management techniques. Process engineers have developed and refined manufacturing processes and techniques to improve our ability to deliver the best feed products to our customers. Researchers have also championed environmental innovations, which will improve our lives now and those in the future. The list of "firsts" outlined in the Spirit of Purina Mills Anniversary Book chronicles successful efforts and innovations year after year.

"Throughout 2001," says Larry Woolweaver, who heads up the Administrative group at the Research Center, "we are going to highlight research successes of individual specie groups and point to the important contributions they will make in the future."

As William H. Danforth, founder of Purina Mills, often said as he referred to the Purina research team… "We are just making the best better!" As salespeople remind Purina dealers of the company’s leadership in research, they can also remind them that… "the best is yet to be!"