The North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) set its strategic course for the coming year, welcomed new leadership, and honored industry figures during its 2025 annual meeting in New Orleans.
The event, held October 9-11 at The Ritz-Carlton, brought together more than 130 leaders from across the North American milling industry. NAMA co-hosted the meeting with the Canadian National Millers Association, highlighting the importance of cross-border collaboration within the grain sector.
“The annual meeting was an important opportunity for NAMA’s members to connect on our priorities and plan for 2026,” said Tedd Kruse, chair of NAMA and president of ADM Milling and Baking Solutions. “From nutrition to trade and research, NAMA continues to be an effective voice in Washington, DC, on a wide range of issues that impact the milling industry.”
During its annual business meeting, NAMA elected two new members to its Executive Committee: Alan Koechner, research and development director for grain ingredient applications at PepsiCo Inc., and Keith Adams, chief operating officer of Bay State Milling Co.
At the Annual Meeting Dinner and Awards Reception held in The National WWII Museum, Kruse presented the 2025 Honorary Member Award to Rick Schwein, retired president of oat milling at Grain Millers Inc., and posthumously to Daniel Fetherston, general manager of SEMO Milling LLC, who passed away in January.
Outgoing Executive Committee members Mike Fassezke, president of flour milling at Star of the West; Brian Doyle, president of King Milling Co.; and Brian Anderson, president of the Agricor division at Grain Millers, were recognized for their service. Riley Didion, chief executive officer of Didion Milling, was announced as the incoming Corn Division chair.
NAMA’s Corn, Oat, and Wheat Divisions convened to advance the organization’s strategic plan, with discussions focused on nutrition, mycotoxin and plant disease research, drought-tolerant wheat, and regulatory impacts from the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.
“Using our strategic plan as a guide, NAMA works nimbly to help the industry navigate today’s rapidly changing policy environment,” said Jane DeMarchi, president of NAMA.
DeMarchi’s Washington update highlighted how MAHA is influencing policy discussions, particularly around defining ultra-processed foods (UPFs), front-of-pack labeling, and state-level food additive bans. She also discussed tax incentives from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the effects of the recent federal shutdown and appropriations delays, and advocacy efforts to transfer the USAID Food for Peace program to the USDA.
She called on members to be more active in state-level advocacy, emphasizing the need for engagement in both blue and red states as legislation accelerates across the country.
Conference speakers included Sharon Bomer of AgTrade Strategies LLC on trade policy; Donald Boucher of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada with an AAFC update; Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University on food system foresight; Kim Bedwell of Wild Hive and registered nutritionist Charlotte Martin representing the Grain Foods Foundation on grain advocacy; and Jacqui Fatka of CoBank on agricultural policy implications.
“The speakers at this year’s annual meeting provided insights on some of the most critical topics impacting millers and the economy,” DeMarchi said.
The 2026 NAMA annual meeting will take place October 1-4 at the La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, under the theme “Legacy in Motion: Celebrating the Past, Driving the Future.”
