GEAPS webinars provide educational and innovative content. Presented by industry experts and designed for professionals in the grain and grain processing industries, these interactive webinars cover topics you care about.
We welcome you to join us for these webinars to learn, ask questions, and connect with the presenter and others.
Upcoming Webinars
Navigating H-2A: Compliance, Cost, and Benefits
April 29, 2026
12 p.m. CDT
Labor shortages continue to challenge the agriculture industry, particularly during peak seasonal demand. This webinar explores how the H-2A visa program applies, where eligibility begins and ends, and what employers must consider before pursuing this workforce option. Attendees will gain an understanding of compliance requirements, cost structures, and operational realities to determine if H-2A is a viable option.
Key Takeaways:
- Eligibility Boundaries (What Qualifies—and What Doesn’t)
Adding clarity around gray areas and common misconceptions within agricultural operations, including grain. - Compliance Requirements (What It Looks Like in Practice)
Translating DOL requirements into what this actually looks like day-to-day, including common audit triggers. - True Cost Analysis (Beyond the Wage Rate)
Breaking down the full financial picture, from understanding AEWR to factoring in corresponding workers, the three-quarter guarantee, and other often-overlooked employer costs. - The Realities Behind the Program (Lessons Learned)
Diving into our real-world challenges such as filing delays, consulate bottlenecks, CDL limitations, and communication gaps—along with how to navigate them. - Workforce Strategy Fit (Where It Makes Sense—and Where It Doesn’t)
Evaluate whether H-2A supports your broader seasonal and long-term labor planning objectives.
About the Speaker
Paula Newlin
Talent Development Manager
Central Valley Ag
Paula Newlin leads with a deep commitment to people, purpose, and growth. In her role, she oversees training and development strategies across the cooperative while managing a recruiting team of five employees supporting multiple regions. She also leads and administers CVA’s H2A program, guiding the full lifecycle of international workforce development—from application and onboarding to ongoing support and retention.
Stopping Rail Incidents Before They Start: The Three Critical Risk Areas in Industrial Operations
May 27, 2026
12:00 p.m. CDT
The most dangerous job, in a most unforgiving industry, is performing ground switching duties. And, by far, the most dangerous place to perform those duties is within private, industrial sites, the “plant railroads,” as the FRA describes them. This webinar will provide data and risk mitigation strategies for the top three rail-related risks in the Industrial Plant Yards.
Key Topics:
- Track clearance / close clearance
- Inexperienced employees
- Job briefings
About the Speakers
Russell York
Director of Program Development
Rail Safe Training
Russell York develops rail safety programs and trains rail employees and managers to work safely. He helps them achieve this by teaching the best rail safety practices in the railroad industry. Russell has an extensive background in railroad management with over 40 years of experience at management levels with the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, as a Yardmaster and Director of Train Management.
George Baker
Consultant
Rail Safe Training
George Baker is a former Fire Chief and Regional Emergency Planning Committee Chair who now serves as a consultant with Rail Safe Training. With a background in high-stakes emergency response, he translates command-level lessons into practical strategies for today’s grain and rail professionals. As an executive leadership coach, George helps organizations strengthen safety culture, develop multigenerational teams, and build the kind of leaders who keep people and operations safe.
Beyond the Grain: Series Topic to be Announced
Coming April 2026
Back by popular demand following the September DDGS webinar, Dr. Kurt Rosentrater will join us again. Stay tuned for more information to come.
About the Speaker
Dr. Kurt Rosentrater
Professor
Iowa State University
Dr. Kurt Rosentrater is a professor at Iowa State University. He has built a career spanning industry, government, and academia, focused on advancing sustainability in the grain processing, food, feed, bioproduct, and bio-renewable industries. His work applies physics, chemistry, and engineering to biological systems, developing and optimizing supply chains through techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to maximize value while minimizing environmental impact. With projects ranging from lab to ecosystem scale, he conducts research, outreach, and training across the Midwest and the globe.
Previous Webinars
Previous GEAPS webinars are available for free to GEAPS members in our Video Library. Filter by “Past Webinars” to see the full list.