Meet the 2026 IOMSA Golden Ticket Winners
Three Recipients Earn a Trip to Exchange
Did you catch these golden guests at GEAPS Exchange 2026? Three deserving grain processing professionals received full access to industry education, networking, and career-enhancing opportunities after being selected as this year’s IOMSA Golden Ticket award winners.
Congrats to the Winners
- Kevin Heiden, Shipping and Receiving Supervisor, Zeeland Farm Services – Ithaca, Ithaca, MI
- Ben Schlatter, Facility Engineering Intern, Scoular, and Feed-Mill Operator, Midland Marketing Cooperative, Hays, KS
- Adam Kopachek, Inventory Manager, CHS Inc. – Global Grains and Processing, Mankato, MN
The program provided complimentary full registration and a $500 travel stipend to the award winners who all demonstrated their eagerness to expand their technical knowledge and industry network.
These three recipients were selected through a competitive application process that evaluated professional experience, commitment to continued learning, and interest in advancing within grain processing operations. 2026 was the second year of the IOMSA Golden Ticket, which aligned with the returning Processing track of education.
This program is named for the International Oil Mill Superintendents Association which existed from 1905 to 2023 with a mission to promote the education, happiness and general well-being of its members, and thereby to further the efficiency and prosperity of the oil mill industry.
Let’s Get to Know the Winners
Kevin Heiden
In his professional career, Kevin Heiden’s role involves receiving and shipping soybeans, transferring soybeans from rail and truck to processing plant for extraction, and stepping in wherever needed—whether it be maintenance to rail movement to general labor.
His goal of attending Exchange was to expand his network with those in the same field. He also wanted to bring back any knowledge he learned to share with his team: “[I hope] to learn anything I can and teach others what I may be able to,” he said.
His humble attitude was apparent from the beginning. Heiden applied for the Golden Ticket in hopes of earning the trip to minimize any financial obligations from his company. He was happy to share that due to this opportunity, that barrier was removed, allowing him to join fellow industry professionals in Kansas City
Ben Schlatter
Benjamin Schlatter earned his Golden Ticket as an up-and-coming young professional in the grain processing space. He attended Exchange with many titles beyond “Golden Ticket Winner,” including “first time attendee” and “student member.”
In his first Exchange, his favorite part was the Expo floor. He noted the excitement of all the booths and vendors and seeing how broad and diverse the industry truly is. As an ambitious college student, Schlatter was not shy about meeting new people and learning about new products.
“I plan on attending next year again and would definitely recommend it to professionals in the grain processing industry, especially fellow collegiate students interested in the grain world,” said Schlatter. Exchange helped me see how many career opportunities there are in the grain industry and just how large the industry actually is.”
Adam Kopachek
As an Inventory Manager, Adam Kopachek works with many different industrial suppliers all over the United States. His facility in Mankato, MN, processes soybeans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He manages over 4,000 different critical spare parts and supplies using a software program to keep the plant running.
Because of this background, his biggest Exchange goal was to make more connections that may better suite the needs in his facility. Mission accomplished. Kopachek noted he enjoyed the networking and socializing with fellow industry professionals most of all.
Attending GEAPS Exchange was on Kopachek’s bucket list for many years. When he returned from the trip, he stated that he plans to attend again and would recommend the event to others. “I think anyone who works in the grain/grain processing industries would benefit from it,” he said.
