Host Simon Tiedge, Miller Milling, speaks with visitors at the IAOM Conference & Expo during the trade show in Richmond, Virginia. Among his guests are K-State students, exhibitors and conference attendees. They share their impressions of what they've seen in the exhibition hall, as well as their experiences in the milling industry. The K-State students talk about how they got interested in the milling science program at Kansas State University and the internships that they've...

IAOM President Randy Garvert shares his thoughts on leadership and the lessons he’s learned in his 40+ years in the grain milling industry. He also shares stories about how he first became involved in IAOM. He also shares information on the industry initiative, through IAOM, to promote milling and attract new talent into the pipeline. […]

After winning the Best of Show award for its unique "Dampe" dampening system, swisca North America CEO Reudi Weiss sat down for a cup of coffee with Host Simon Tiedge, Miller Milling, to talk about the milling and technology start-up and the prize-winning machine. Weiss talked about the enormous energy efficiency that the dampening system brings to the industry. He explained that the system uses nozzles to spray the grain with a mist of water at the very beginning of the processing chain in...

Dave Renner got his start in milling when he was still in high school, working in his classmate's father's mill. When he lost his football scholarship at Westminster College, he decided to switch from forestry to milling science and finished his degree at Kansas State. He talks about working in mills before automation, and how he has come to love working in a durum mill. He tells our host Simon Tiedge that milling isn't an occupation, it's a profession - it's a skill set that you can take...

During a recent interview, Host Simon Tiedge, Miller Milling, hears how milling uncovered a passion for Dillon Wells, a junior at Kansas State University.  Dillon says that because of his internship experiences, he learned that he has a passion for technology and the workings of equipment. Had it not been for milling, he might never have discovered this passion. Dillon also talks about the opportunities he sees for exploring different cities as a part of the milling community. This is the...

Host Simon Tiedge talks with Cody Blodgett in the first of a series of conversations with soon-to-be graduates of the Kansas State University milling science program. Cody, who is scheduled to graduate in May, says that the three internships he completed during his four years at K-State complemented the in-class and in-lab instruction he received throughout his studies. He says the hands-on components of the internships were very beneficial and really helped him to get a better understanding...

Upon completing her milling science degree at Kansas State University in the 1980s, Fran Churchill was one of a handful of female graduates to enter the milling industry. She talks with Host Simon Tiedge about some of her experiences as a woman in the male-dominated field of milling, as well as her career journey that allowed her to live and work across the United States before returning to her alma mater to teach. And, even though she grew up on a farm that grew wheat and lived in a town...

Mike Terning, director of product and host of Outstanding in the Field podcast, and Mark Hisken, CINCH platform and development manager, Cultura Technologies, join the podcast to talk about how IoT and automation can help milling companies be more efficient. The software platform builds out all of the functionality specific to agriculture industries that isn’t available in standard accounting software. The trio discuss how much progress and growth has appeared in the past five years, and take...

Troy Anderson, vice president of operations at Ardent Mills, shares his thoughts about the miller of the future, the impact of the global pandemic on the industry, training strategies, and how to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry. He says we need to collectively come together to promote and bring greater visibility to careers in grain milling. We have a great story to tell and we are getting better at telling it, but there is still work to be done.

Imagine teaching milling to a group with a variety of backgrounds and experience levels. Now, add in several native languages and different processes used to grind the same grains across Africa. These are some of the daily challenges that Stefan Lutz encounters as director of the African Milling School in Nairboi, Kenya. From apprenticeship programs and head miller training to baking and brewing courses, the AMS has helped to elevate the knowledge and skills of millers across Africa. Learn...

Liam Cassidy, head of automation at Bühler Group, shares his thoughts on automation in the milling industry. What does automation mean for operative millers? Will there still be a need for millers moving forward in lights-out milling facilities? Does automation allow the miller to focus more on milling and less on the more tedious work that has to be done in a mill?

Gary Pickelmann, IAOM Past President and Gold Medal Award recipient, talks about his 47+ year career working for the same milling company, Star of the West Milling. An engineer by training, Gary immediately fell in love with milling and shares his passion for the industry and his colleagues.

IAOM President David Jansen, Siemer Milling Company, is the first guest to appear on the podcast. He talks about his career path, his involvement in IAOM, and reminds listeners that miller have “more tools in their toolboxes than a computer mouse.”