Today’s grain industry professionals are continually being asked to adapt to the latest technologies and be well versed in the advancing changes in research and product development.
Recognizing these challenges, the faculty members at the Kansas State University IGP Institute are continually working to address these educational opportunities, while maintaining their position as a leader of global grain training.
Focused on the areas of feed manufacturing and grain quality management, grain processing and flour milling, and grain marketing and risk management, the IGP Institute annually trains more than 1,500 professionals representing 65 counties on average through on-site and online offerings.
Hoping to deliver content straight to the user, the IGP Institute is working to launch an on-demand opportunity for two lectures featured in the IAOM (International Association of Operative Millers)–KSU flour milling trainings.
“Through the on-demand offerings we hope to provide useful training information that people can view remotely as well as garner their interest in coming to one of our on-site offerings,” says Shawn Thiele, interim associate director of the IGP Institute and grain processing and flour milling curriculum manager.
This offering is a coordinated effort with distance education manager Trina Adams, who shares that she too is excited about the ability to provide this knowledge remotely.
“The focus of our team is to deliver content to the user right where they are whether that be in their office or at home,” Adams says.
In addition, the IGP Institute will once again offer the IAOM–KSU Flour and Dough Testing training that was new in 2018.
“We had tremendous participation in this first offering of the IAOM–KSU Flour and Dough Testing course and we are excited to offer it again in 2019,” Thiele says. “This is a great example of how the IGP Institute is responsive to the needs of the industry and why our partnerships with IAOM and Buhler, Inc. are so valuable.”
Along with this, Thiele shares that the IGP Institute faculty will also be working with the team at AIB International to deliver more education on FSPCA and HACCP integration for FSMA compliance.
“We are continuing to work on preparing valuable trainings to serve the demands of the flour milling industry,” says Thiele.
An expansion of an industry partnership is also happening in the feed and grain quality management curriculum as well. In May 2019, the IGP Institute will join with the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) to offer a grain elevator managers course.
Looking ahead, the IGP Institute will be filling the senior agricultural economist position to lead the efforts in the 2019 grain marketing and risk management trainings.
“We have a great group of candidates for the position and hope to have that person in place early in 2019,” says Campabadal, who serves as the chairman of the search committee for the Department of Grain Science and Industry.
As the grain industry continues to grow, the IGP Institute echoes the growth and development of the courses offered throughout the year for professionals who are driven to continue their education and training.
To learn more about the 2019 course offerings please see the listings on the IGP Institute website at grains.ksu.edu/igp. For on-site training questions please reach out to Kelly Boswell, IGP program services coordinator, at 785-532-4096. For distance trainings please contact Trina Adams at 785-532-4447.
