IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Dillon Wells

Host Simon Tiedge 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 Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Randy Garvert appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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 company’s plans to expand its offerings to the milling community. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Reudi Weiss appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Dave Renner appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Dillon Wells appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Cody Blodgett appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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 with a flour mill, she said that she never made the connection between the wheat they grew to the flour they bought. So, she’s not surprised that the milling industry is such a well-kept secret. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Fran Churchill appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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 a look at where automation and technology might be headed. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Cultura appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Troy Anderson appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.

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 more from the conversation between Lutz and IAOM First Break Host Simon Tiedge. Check us out on Instagram The post IAOM First Break: Stories from the Roll Floor with Stefan Lutz appeared first on International Association of Operative Millers.