International Association of Operative Millers International Association of Operative Millers

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 completed.  



Guests: 

Matthew Anschutz, Kansas State University

Joel Hoffa, JRH Consulting

Bennett Jones, Kansas State University

Andreas Kleiner, swisca

Jeff Martin, Bühler

Aidin Milani, Bühler

Tyler Mayorga, Kansas State University

Adrian Najera, Miller Milling

Frank Reda, MPI

Herman Roux, Bühler

Brooklyn Terstriep, Kansas State University

Shawn Thiele, Kansas State University

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 […]

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 the mill, which results in higher efficiency in flour production later in the milling process. Although the core business for swisca is scales, Weiss talks about the companies plans to expand its offerings to the milling community. 

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 anywhere in the world and have a career. Find out more about Dave's career, and learn what he considers as one of the most rewarding things he's done in his milling career. 

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 second in a series of conversations with Kansas State University milling science program students. First Break will check back in with Dillon in the fall to learn what impact his third internship has had on Dillon's studies and future plans.

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 of what his post-graduate lifestyle might be like. Cody also talked about some of the challenges that were brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic for students over the past 13 months. We look forward to catching up with Cody in several months to see how the reality of working in a mill compares to his understanding of it during his last days as a K-State student.