A record number of attendees participated in BEMA’s
Annual Meeting held June 18–23, in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Members heard from premier leaders in the baking industry on company trends, sanitation and the baking industry in the Middle East.

Principles of Sanitation, presented by Kevin Farnum, General Mills, and Al Koch, Kraft Foods, sponsored by The Peerless Group, provided attendees with the ten principles of sanitary design. Members of the Baking Industry Forum (BIF), presented the baker’s point of view on spare parts. At the International Baking Breakfast, Ali Habaj, Oman Flour Mills, provided insight into the baking industry in Oman.

BEMA’s annual meeting also featured updates from leaders of allied associations. Speakers included Robb MacKie, president and C.E.O., American Bakers Association; Judi Adams, president, Grain Foods Foundation; and Jim Munyon, American Institute of Baking.

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Holsum bakers are teaming up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to help make a difference for Jerry’s Kids® this summer. Special packaging will be in stores for the month of August, highlighting Holsum’s support of the MDA. The Holsum bakers will donate a minimum of $20,000 to MDA. Each bakery will appear on its local Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon to present their portion of the donation.
Holsum bakeries participating in the promotion include: Aunt Millie’s Bakery, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Butter-Krust Baking Co. Sunbury, Pa.; Holsum Bakery Inc., Phoenix; Klosterman Baking Co., Cincinnati; Lewis Bakeries, Evansville, Ind., and Holsum De Puerto Rico, Toa Baja, PR.
Holsum is a registered trademark of The Long Co., a bakery cooperative, Chicago.

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The Independent Bakers Association (IBA) honored Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) with the Horst G. Denk Legislative Service Award during its 35th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The award is given annually to two members of Congress based on their support on key issues related to the baking and food industry.
The award is named after Horst G. Denk, who served as IBA Chairman during the early 1980’s. Under Denk’s leadership, IBA expanded its legislative involvement, giving bakers across the country a greater voice in Washington.

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IBA’s 35th Annual Meeting concluded with the passing of the chairmanship from John Popp of Aunt Millie’s Bakery, Fort Wayne, Ind., to Robert (Sandy) Whann of Leidenheimer Baking Company, New Orleans. John Popp has been a very active and engaging chairman who has fought hard to expose speculation in the commodity markets and often spoke out when legislation or regulation could harm the baking industry.
Incoming Chairman Whann has a long family history in the Baking industry. His Great Grandfather, George Leidenheimer, came to New Orleans from Deidesheim, Germany in 1886, and founded the bakery that bears his name. With so many issues now in play from healthcare to Card Check, Chairman Whann will be quite busy.

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Dave Krishock, Baking Science and Management Instructor, Kansas State University, received the 2009 Commerce Bank Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award from Kansas State University.

Krishock came to the Department of Grain Science in 2005, as BNEF (Baker’s National Education Foundation) Baking Science Instructor. He is a graduate of the American Institute of Baking and has many years in the industry working for such companies as Zimmerman’s and King Arthur Flour. Krishock, along with his wife Wendy, also owned their own bakery.

Dave was one of only five undergraduate educators nationally to receive this award this year.