Steve Sukup and Van Buchanan Receive GEAPS Awards
The 2026 GEAPS Awards were presented at the GEAPS Exchange conference welcome. The Industry Leader Award and the GEAPS Member of Distinction Award were both granted to two deserving recipients.
Industry Leader Award Winner: Steve Sukup
In recognition of remarkable contributions and outstanding leadership within the grain industry, GEAPS proudly honored Steve Sukup of Sukup Manufacturing with the prestigious Industry Leader Award.
Steve has supported the commercial grain industry through Sukup Manufacturing’s investment in becoming a Premier Partner with GEAPS and personally investing in the processing side with biofuels. He has been a longtime supporter of GEAPS and has advocated for his employees to become active members of GEAPS for years.
Steve was the driving force who made a family business into the largest family-owned grain bin manufacturer in the world. He has also led his family business in being a one stop shop for providing the industry with grain storage, handling, and drying equipment along with a full line of support towers, catwalks, and pre-engineered metal buildings.
GEAPS Member of Distinction Award Winner: Van Bucanan
Next, GEAPS recognized the Member of Distinction Award winner: Van Buchanan of Bulk Conveyors, Inc. (BCI).
As a GEAPS member since 1974, Van embodies the true humbleness of the volunteer attitude “what can we do to help.” It is because of this heart of gold and true vision to help each and every one who he crosses paths with.
Van is someone who many GEAPS members look up to, seek guidance from, and seek his encouragement. His willingness to always help out has raised the bar for suppliers. If an elevator or processing plant is down, Van has shown the industry what it means to go out of your way to get a plant back operational. And how to improve the process along the way. A new threshold for his moto of “Where Customer Service is Always First!”
Congratulations to Steve and Van for their dedication and influence to the grain and grain processing industries and the GEAPS organization.
