By Brent Manning, Board President

Spring has brought renewed energy with planting and harvesting and, in that spirit, the Guild board of directors has been hard at work bringing our new members into the fold and planning for the road ahead. We have completed the first of two virtual retreats designed to pull us out of the normal day-to-day and into a more contemplative space. This exercise, conducted annually, allows us to review the goals set for our organization in the past few years and make note of the accomplishments we’ve made.

I’m happy to report that the working group model continues to serve the organization well. Chairs for each group report solid progress in achieving both short and long-term goals. The second retreat will focus on budgeting and event planning for the 2022 fiscal year. 

As many of you may have seen, the Advanced Class in Craft Malt Production returned to an in-person event in May. The class was hosted at the Southern Illinois University’s Fermentation Science Institute (also home to Member Malthouse, Saluki Malt) in Carbondale, IL which offered students a phenomenal hands-on experience. Many thanks to class instructors, Hannah Turner and Hugh Alexander, and Matt McCarroll, FSI’s Director, for all their hard work organizing, teaching, and hosting this event.

As we look ahead, please mark your calendars for Craft Malt Week 2022, September 11-17. This is a great opportunity to plan educational events and collaborations that celebrate the positive impact that our industry has on local economies and the environment. Additionally, the Guild is excited to host a second annual Malt for Brewers & Distillers Workshop at the University of California, Davis on September 19-20. 

We wish everyone a wonderful and prosperous summer!