Grainnet

All participation records were shattered at the Grain Elevator and Processing Society’s 79th GEAPS Exchange and Expo held Feb. 23-26 in Omaha, NE.

Attendance for the event at the Qwest Convention Center was 2,380, eclipsing the previous record of 2,262 set in 1997 in Minneapolis, MN.

Attendance in 2007 in Grapevine, TX, was 1,651. In 2006, attendance was 1,594 in Nashville, TN.

The annual Expo held with the GEAPS Exchange also established a new record with 371 booths sold to 250 companies.

Even the education program set a record by featuring 30 hours of programming presented by 55 speakers.

A highlight of the 79th GEAPS Exchange were the 12 pod sessions held during trade show hours in which speakers demonstrated grain quality equipment. Small groups of people had the opportunity for hands-on experience using the equipment.

Anderson Research Award

During the annual banquet Tuesday evening, Feb. 26, the NC-213 Research Group, which held its annual meeting in conjunction with the GEAPS Exchange, presented its annual Anderson Research Award to Dr. Tim Herrman, current Texas State Chemist and former professor at Kansas State University, Manhattan.

At the annual business meeting Tuesday, GEAPS members elected Rick Krier, location manager and safety coordinator, Western Iowa Cooperative, Hornick, IA, as international second vice president for 2008-09, putting him in line to be international president in 2010-11.

Advancing in rank was Mark “Buzz” Tourangeau, manager, Farmers Cooperative Society, Sanborn, to first international vice president.

Moving up to the office of president was Mark Daniels, director of health and safety, CHS Inc.,Inver Grove Heights, MN.

Taking up the chairmanship of the International Board was Mike Myrick, plant manager, The Andersons Inc. ethanol plant in Clymers, IN.

Elected to 3-year terms on the International Board were:

• Jeff Caskey, operations manager, The Scoular Co., Ogden, UT;

• Chad Cook, manager, Burley Idaho Bean & Grain, Burley, ID;

• Stephen Tillery, operations manager, Attebury Grain Inc., Amarillo, TX.

The Associates Board, which represents suppliers of equipment and services to the grain industry, also held elections.

Elected secretary was Steve Schmitt, vice president-technical operations, T.E. Ibberson Co., Hopkins, MN.

Craig Jones, sales representative, Tramco Inc., Wichita, KS, was advanced to vice president.

Stephen Ginter, grain systems product manager and international marketing manager, Chief Agri-Industrial Div., Kearney, NE, was advanced to president.

Elected to 3-year terms on the Associates Board were:

• Tom Pruess, sales manager, Mill & Elevator Supply Co. Inc./Rubber Belting & Hose, Kansas City, MO;

• Dan Vis, sales representative, Hi Roller Conveyors, Sioux Falls, SD;

• Nelson Wagner, product manager-grain storage, Brock Grain Systems, Milford, IN;

• Jim Rogers, sales manager, WAM USA Inc., Fort Worth, TX.

The 80th GEAPS Exchange and Expo will be held Feb. 28-Mar. 3, 2009, at the America's Center and Renaissance Hotel in St. Louis, MO.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Video from GEAPS Exchange
• Photos from GEAPS Exchange

more GRAIN NEWS...