Milling & Baking News - November 15, 2005 - 18

I N D U S T R Y

A C T I V I T I E S

Shoemaker upbeat on flour trends
but urges vigilance, perseverance
WASHINGON - "Today, I take the the healthfulness of our products," Mr.
bold step of declaring that the down- Shoemaker said. "Finally, we, millers
ward trend in flour consumption is and bakers, collaborated in forming
over, and that we're at the beginning the Grain Foods Foundation.
of a turnaround," Guy Shoemaker,
"This association raised $1.5 million
president, Horizon Milling L.L.C., Min- for the foundation. I want to thank you
neapolis, and current chairman of the
North American Millers' Association,
told NAMA members at their annual
meeting in Washington Oct. 19. Mr.
Shoemaker acknowledged that as yet
no government data were available
to buttress the declaration. But his assertion, as head of the nation's largest
milling company, and its underlying
confidence reflected both the conviction and observations of fellow millers
and bakers who, in their own businesses, have sensed an upturn in the
affairs of grain-based foods.
At the same time, Mr. Shoemaker
urged millers to remain vigilant.
"The Atkins diet faded," he said.
"However, we should not take too
much comfort in that, because previous challenges to grain-based foods
emerged and then faded in the 1960s,
70s, 80s and 90s. We don't know when Shoemaker
the next challenge might arise."
But in the meantime, the dietary for that. And now, we must persevere.
guidelines have been published, and We have to fight the fight."
they encourage grain consumption,
Mr. Shoemaker lauded especially the
"which is very good for us," Mr. Shoe- work of three industry executives, John
maker noted. The new MyPyramid Gillcrist, president of Bartlett Milling
and the MyPyramid for Children also Co., L.P., Kansas City, immediate past
emphasize grains. And the industry's chairman of NAMA; Phillip N. Stronown Grains for Life campaign has gin, immediate past chief executive ofbeen out front in promoting the con- ficer, Cereal Food Processors, Inc., Missumption of grain foods.
sion Woods, Kas.; and Charles B. Stout,
Mr. Shoemaker had high praise for the president, Milner Milling, in representwork of the Grain Foods Foundation.
ing NAMA during the formation of the
"Millers and bakers have been moan- Grain Foods Foundation and thanked
ing for decades about the need to take them for remaining its champions.
control of our own destiny, to promote
"We're excited about the future, and

Miller joins NAMA executive committee
WASHINGTON - John Miller, president, Miller Milling Co., Bloomington,
Minn., was installed as a member of the executive committee of the North
American Millers' Association at the group's annual meeting in Washington
Oct. 17-19. Mr. Miller had been nominated to serve on the committee for a 200508 term by the NAMA nominating committee and was elected by mail ballot
in advance of the annual meeting. He succeeded Harry L. Crumpacker, chairman, The Morrison Milling Co., Denton, Texas, who completed his term on the
committee and was thanked for his leadership role during the NAMA board of
directors meeting Oct. 18.
Mr. Miller joins the following current members of the executive committee:
Craig A. Fischer, ADM Milling Co.; Fred W. Luckey, Bunge Milling, Inc.; Roger
F. Mortenson, House-Autry Mills, Inc.; Bruce Roskens, Quarter Foods/PepsiCo;
Rick L. Schwein, Grain Millers, Inc.; Guy R. Shoemaker, Horizon Milling/
Cargill; and J. Vance Taylor, North Dakota Mill & Elevator. MBN

18 / Milling & Baking News, November 15, 2005

we're going to continue in this collaboration," Mr. Shoemaker said. "It's
quite a testament for this organization
that we were able to come together,
step up and speak for ourselves, instead of letting others speak for us."
Mr. Shoemaker also pointed to the
successful collaboration that resulted
in the International Trade Commission
recently declaring the importation of
hard red spring wheat from Canada
did not materially injure or threaten
to injure U.S. wheat producers. This
marked a reversal of an earlier I.T.C.
decision that had resulted in duties
being applied on imports of spring
wheat from Canada. The duties had
choked off trade in spring wheat between the two countries.
Mr. Shoemaker praised John
Miller, president, Miller Milling Co.,
Bloomington, Minn., for his determined efforts to bring forward to the
commission the facts of the case.
"We won based on those facts, not
on emotions," Mr. Shoemaker said.
"And we won because of perseverance. We didn't let any setbacks stand
in our way. We were confident of our
position, and John Miller kept us on
the straight and narrow, focused."
The North Dakota Wheat Commission was expected to appeal the
new ruling, so the fight was not quite
yet finished, Mr. Shoemaker noted.
Mr. Shoemaker stressed the importance of cooperation, and even passion, in relation to building a better
foreign food aid program. He pointed
to Mr. Gillcrist, James A. Madich of
Horizon Milling, chairman of NAMA's
International Trade Committee; James
C. Brainard, vice-president, export
and blended foods, ADM Milling Co.,
Overland Park, Kas.; and Paul Green,
consultant to NAMA on international
trade, as leading industry efforts in
fostering collaboration between millers and all others concerned with
enhancing the U.S. commitment to
provide food for those most in need.
Mr. Shoemaker said NAMA members must continue to exemplify the
current spirit of cooperation and collaboration in approaching all other
issues of concern to milling, including
allergen labeling, biotechnology and
the upcoming farm bill debate.
"How do we get things done? We
get things done by our members
working on committees," Mr. Shoemaker said. This commitment has
made possible all the gains registered
in the last year, he said.
"What does it take? Collaboration,
commitment and perseverance," he
said. MBN
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Milling & Baking News - November 15, 2005

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