MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S. — Exchange 2012 was the largest conference ever for the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) with a record number of attendees, booths, exhibitors, and education sessions. GEAPS 83rd grain operations technical conference and exposition was March 3-6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

A record 2,727 attendees browsed 276 exhibitors showcasing the products, equipment and services at  453 booths in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The old attendance record was 2,380 at Exchange 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

One significant highlight of the Exchange occurred during the annual meeting on March 5. President Mark Fedje opened the annual meeting by announcing that GEAPS and Kansas State University are now offering a credentialing program in grain operations.

The success of Exchange 2012 has already led to a sold-out Exchange 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., GEAPS said. The last of the 508 remaining booth spaces were selected in the closing minutes of the Exchange.