October 5, 2026 – More than 125 milling industry leaders and their guests gathered in San Antonio, Texas for the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) Annual Meeting, which ended Saturday. Retired leaders joined the conference as part of the theme of “Legacy in Motion: Celebrating the Past, Driving the Future.”
The NAMA Board of Directors held its annual business meeting during the conference, confirming the election of Chris Giguere (Iowa Corn Processors) to serve as Chair and Sheryl Wallace (Ardent Mills) as Vice Chair. NAMA’s Corn, Oat, and Wheat Divisions met during the conference to continue work to implement the association’s strategic plan.
“I am truly honored to be stepping into the role of NAMA Chair during such a dynamic time for the milling industry,” said NAMA Chair Chris Giguere. “This year’s Annual Meeting gave millers the opportunity to reflect on the strength and resilience of our industry while looking ahead to how we can navigate today’s challenges together.”
During the 2026 Annual Meeting Dinner and Awards Ceremony, Giguere presented the 2026 Honorary Member Award to Vance Taylor (North Dakota Mill and Elevator, retired) and Jim Meyer (Richardson International, retired). Outgoing Chair Tedd Kruse (ADM Milling and Baking Solutions) and Executive Committee members Terry Tyson (Grain Millers Canada) and Brent Bash (General Mills) were also recognized.
Presentations during the conference provided a forward-looking perspective on topics impacting the North American milling supply chain, from the current economic outlook to the impact of the upcoming midterm elections and the dynamics impacting policymaking in Washington, D.C.
A panel of current milling industry CEOs shared their thoughts on some of the biggest questions facing the industry today. Mark Stewart (Agriculture Future of America/AFA) discussed the importance of developing future leaders. AFA, NAMA, and the Sosland Family Industry Investment Fund recently launched the NAMA Leader Development Scholarship so outstanding milling industry interns can attend the AFA Leaders Conference.
“This gathering brought together current and former leaders to reflect on the essential, timeless role of the milling industry. As our member companies innovate to thrive over the next century, NAMA is committed to advancing their success through advocacy and communications that reflect the role our products play in nourishing millions of people every day,” said NAMA President Jane DeMarchi.
For more information about the 2026 Annual Meeting and future NAMA events, visit https://namamillers.org/our-events/. NAMA’s Spring Conference – the organization’s largest annual education conference for wheat, corn, and oat millers – will be held March 2-5, 2027 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The 2026-2027 NAMA Board of Directors.
From left to right: NAMA President Jane DeMarchi, NAMA Chair Chris Giguere (Iowa Corn Processors), and NAMA Vice Chair Sheryl Wallace (Ardent Mills).
Cathy Dub (North Dakota Mill and Elevator), accepting the NAMA Honorary Member Award on behalf of Vance Taylor (North Dakota Mill and Elevator, retired), and NAMA Chair Chris Giguere.
NAMA Honorary Member Awardee Jim Meyer (Richardson International,, retired) and NAMA Chair Chris Giguere.
Former NAMA members and staff attended the Annual Meeting in celebration of the conference theme “Legacy in Motion: Celebrating the Past, Driving the Future.”
Pictured from left to right: Tom Rogers of Wilkins-Rogers, Inc.; Paul Green, retired from NAMA; Rick Schwein, retired from Grain Millers and former NAMA chair; Dan Dye of Ardent Mills and former NAMA chair; Betsy Faga, former president of NAMA; Don Wilbur, retired from Industrial Fumigant Co; Don Mennel of Mennel Milling Company and former chair of Millers’ National Federation; Robert Blachly, retired from Industrial Fumigant Co; Mark Kolkhorst, retired from ADM Milling and former NAMA chair.
The program featured a CEO panel including (from left to right) Sheryl Wallace (Ardent Mills), Ford Mennel (The Mennel Milling Company), and Todd Stohlmeyer, (Grain Millers), moderated by Cat O’Shaughnessy Coffrin (Captivating Co).
NAMA President Jane DeMarchi moderated a panel featuring Anne MacMillan (Invariant), Sam Kieffer (National Association of Wheat Growers), NAMA Vice President of Government Affairs Kim Cooper, and NAMA Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs Molly Miller.
About NAMA:
NAMA is the only national trade association that exclusively represents the interests of the North American wheat, corn, oat, and rye milling industry before Congress, federal agencies, and international regulatory bodies. Member companies operate mills in 32 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, representing more than 90 percent of total industry production capacity.