WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) hosted ten summer interns from member companies for a Washington, D.C., U.S., public policy experience on July 24. 

Cargill/Horizon Milling interns Amie Canarr and Ryan Welker; ConAgra Mills interns Sabrina Reynolds, Jessica Solo and Luke Weinheimer; Bunge Milling interns Tyler Watson, Jacob Porter, Paul Catterson, and Kenton Robert; and Wilkins Rogers Mills intern Travis Grover met with the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and with the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee.  They learned how the U.S. farm bill can affect the future of milling.

Randy Garvert, senior director, manufacturing, ConAgra Mills; Aaron Black, director of operations, Wilkins Rogers Mills; and Lisa Kiriaki, operations human resource lead, Horizon Milling, accompanied their interns.

“The NAMA intern program shows member-company interns the big picture on how public policy is formulated through the collaboration of industry representatives, legislators, and regulators,” said NAMA Chairman Jim Meyer, president Italgrani U.S.A., Inc. “It adds value to their intern experience to learn how decisions made in Washington affect the milling industry.”

Interns also met Rasma Zvaners, policy director, American Bakers Association (ABA) to learn about how ABA and NAMA work on issues together for the benefit of the entire industry.  

Danielle Mutone-Smith, policy and technical division, Food for Peace, U.S. Agency for International Development presented “Food Aid 101” to the interns.

Welker, Grover, Porter, Catterson, Robert, Reynolds and Weinheimer are enrolled in the milling science and management program at Kansas State University. Canarr is enrolled in the engineering program at the University of North Dakota, Watson is enrolled in the mechanical engineering program at California State University, and Solo is enrolled in the food science program at Kansas State University.