WASHINGTON, DC, US — The North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) and Agriculture Future of America (AFA) are launching a partnership to provide leadership development experiences for collegiate students interested in careers in the grain, milling, and food processing industries.

In a program also supported by the Sosland Family Industry Investment Fund at the AFA, NAMA member companies are invited to select outstanding interns to attend the AFA Leaders Conference, Nov. 12-15 in Kansas City, Missouri, US. The AFA Leaders Conference brings together 900 collegiate leaders exploring careers in agriculture and agriculture-related businesses from across the country for four days of leadership development. The event helps students cultivate six core competency areas of relationship development, collaboration, career management, interpersonal skills, cultural intelligence and systems thinking, the AFA said.

Through the new NAMA Leader Development Scholarship, NAMA member companies may identify and nominate interns they believe would benefit from this professional and leadership development experience. The groups said the program allows millers to both recognize and invest in a high-potential intern while connecting the students to a broader network of emerging leaders across the agriculture and food industries. 

“NAMA is thrilled about this opportunity to provide milling industry interns with an opportunity to augment their technical skills with leadership development at the AFA Leaders Conference,” said Jane DeMarchi, president of NAMA. “Thank you to AFA and the Sosland Family Industry Investment Fund for investing in the milling industry’s future through this dynamic event.”

Mark Stewart, chief executive officer of the AFA, added, “The students who come to AFA through this partnership already see a future in baking and milling. Our role is to help them expand their network, develop as leaders, and better understand how their careers connect to the broader food and agriculture system. In doing so, they can become powerful champions for the industry, helping more students discover the impact and opportunities that exist within baking and milling.”

A gift of the Sosland family, publishers of World Grain and other media serving the grain, milling and food processing industries, AFA’s Sosland Family Industry Investment Fund subsidizes select students’ lodging, food and curriculum costs at the AFA leadership conference. NAMA member companies will be responsible for covering the transportation costs for interns selected to attend the Kansas City conference.

NAMA member companies are invited to reserve spots for interns by clicking here to submit a short form no later than Sept. 23. Spaces are limited. Each company may select one person for this opportunity. After NAMA member companies submit contact information through the application form, the AFA will follow up directly with the students to confirm their participation.

Established in 1996 by Kansas City banker R. Crosby Kemper Jr., and supported by a wide range of leading agribusiness companies, the AFA fosters engagement and innovation in food and agriculture through premier leader and career development experiences. Since its inception, the organization has provided 26,000 leader development experiences to promising college students and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 49 states. Participation in its programs has growth 28% in the last five years. The AFA also has awarded more than $11.5 million in academic and leader development scholarships. 

Get better grain and ag industry search results.

Adding us tells Google to prioritize World Grain stories.

Eric Schroeder is managing editor of Milling & Baking News, Food Business News and World Grain. He has more than 25 years of experience covering the grain, milling and baking industries for Sosland Publishing Company. He is a graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. Connect with Eric Schroeder via email.