Winners receive complimentary GEAPS Exchange Registration and $500 Travel Stipend

Grain processing professionals are encouraged to apply now for the IOMSA Golden Ticket Award. This program provides grain processors the opportunity to experience the education and networking available at GEAPS Exchange. The annual conference is set for February 21-24, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

The IOMSA Golden Ticket offers full complimentary registration to GEAPS Exchange along with a $500 travel stipend. Applicants must currently work in a grain processing facility. Applications are open through January 8, and five winners will be selected and notified soon after. Travel stipends will be distributed at GEAPS Exchange.

Now in its second year, the IOMSA Golden Ticket honors the legacy of the International Oil Mill Superintendents Association (IOMSA), which from 1905 to 2023 worked to advance the knowledge, well-being, and success of professionals in the oil mill sector. This continued investment aligns with a growing focus on grain processing across GEAPS Exchange education.

The expanded processing track includes sessions on:

  • Grain Processing – Leadership Perspectives on What’s Next (A Panel Discussion)
  • The Next Wave of Biofuels Demand – How Growth Will Change US Ag
  • Ethanol – Market Development and Consumer Trends
  • Soybean Processing – Dehulling and Extraction Technologies

Last year’s recipients say the program made immediate and lasting impacts on their careers and workplaces. Daniel Kleine, Production Lead at South Dakota Soybean Processors has already recommended Exchange to colleagues. “I made a point to immerse myself by attending events, visiting as many expo booths as possible and joining several insightful education sessions,” said Kleine.

Another 2025 recipient, Ryan Slama, Construction Project Manager, at CHS Inc., in Mankato, MN, also agrees. “Being a part of GEAPS allows me to strategically network and expand on critical assets our operations teams may not have been exposed to before. The educational programming helped me think differently about processing applications and new technologies,” said Slama.

Applications can be submitted here.