GEAPS Foundation Announces Grant to GEAPS for Grain Quality and Safety Instruction
The Grant Provides Funding Directly to GEAPS, Following a Complementary Grant to Iowa State University Last Month
MINNEAPOLIS, MN-- The GEAPS Foundation has awarded the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) a direct grant to enhance GEAPS coursework on grain quality and safety. This funding supports the ongoing work of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) to provide up-to-date training for grain handling and processing professionals, building on the grant provided to Iowa State University last month. GEAPS Executive Director John Caupert will oversee the project, which will modernize the Introduction to Grain Quality and Entry Level Safety training courses, and engage over a dozen subject matter experts from universities, industry, and government research agencies.
The project is the second grant awarded by the GEAPS Foundation since its founding in 2010 to provide an independent, secure, and sustainable source of funding to support GEAPS Professional Development programming. After years of fundraising and building a strong grant-management infrastructure, the Foundation has entered a new phase—one marked by a commitment to providing larger and more frequent awards to support GEAPS’ mission.
Said Caupert, “Our industry is navigating persistent workforce challenges, and the lack of qualified candidates for demanding grain handling roles continues to be a key bottleneck. By modernizing these foundational courses in grain quality and safety, we can help grain companies train and onboard workers more efficiently, more safely, and with greater long-term success. I’m confident that our collaboration with the GEAPS Foundation will not only deliver these critical updates, but will also enable a new era of workforce development support for years to come.”
Added GEAPS Foundation Chairman Darren Zink, “This grant provides direct support to GEAPS for a bold, high-impact initiative—building on the momentum of last month’s grant to Iowa State University. It reflects the vision and dedication of GEAPS members who spent years establishing a sustainable funding source for professional training that quietly underpins the grain industry. As the industry confronts rapid change, the GEAPS Foundation is committed to making meaningful, strategic investments that support grain professionals and strengthen the workforce.”
About the GEAPS Foundation
The GEAPS Foundation was established to ensure long-term, sustainable support for education and training in the grain and oilseed supply chain. Built on GEAPS’ legacy of innovation in workforce development, the Foundation manages an endowment of $4 million in donations to fund the creation of cutting-edge, industry-relevant training resources. Guided by its Governing Board, the Foundation partners with academic institutions, industry experts, and other grant-making organizations to expand professional development opportunities and strengthen public-private training efforts across the grain industry.
The GEAPS Foundation was made possible by generous founding contributions from CHS, the Grain Elevator & Processing Society (GEAPS), Ag Growth International (AGI), Seedburo Equipment Company, Grain Journal, Younglove Construction, 4B Components Limited, The Andersons, Brock, Cargill, Landus Cooperative, Parrish & Heimbecker, PMI Nebraska, T.E. Ibberson Company, Schlagel, Todd & Sargent, and GEAPS Associates.
About GEAPS
The Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) is an international professional association of grain handling and processing professionals. GEAPS provides its members opportunities for networking, educational programs and access to a global marketplace of industry suppliers. The collaborative effort between GEAPS and its publishing company, GEAPS Media Group (GMG), expands reach in the industry and adds resources for members. GEAPS’ global network includes more than 3,500 individual members from about 1,000 companies.
For more information, visit geapsfoundation.org
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