The three Founders of HyLife have been nationally recognized for their leadership in the agriculture industry.

Claude Vielfaure says he, his brother Denis, and their associate Don Janzen received the 2020 Feed Industry Leadership Award from the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANEC).

“It is quite humbling to receive this award,” he remarks. “It is something that honors us for the growth of our company.”

While Vielfaure and his two colleagues were solely responsible for creating the company back in 1994, he attributes their unprecedented success as much to their own innovation as he does to his dedicated team of workers.

“When you win an award like this, it is about your employees and everybody who has worked so hard for the company over the years. We have truly appreciated them.”

All three men retired from their office towards the end of 2019. Technically speaking, Denis and Don have fully retired; Vielfaure’s love of the hog business has kept him from giving up work completely.

“HyLife asked me to stay on some national and provincial boards and help out so I have been doing that since December,” he says. “It’s only a few hours a week and it’s very enjoyable as it keeps me in touch with the industry.

Still, having all but left his post, Vielfaure says it feels good to see their hard work having a lasting impact.

Ordinarily, he notes, they would have been given the award at ANEC’s annual general meeting in September. With that meeting in flux because of COVID-19, he says the award was presented to them over Zoom.