Frances Churchill receives Women in Agribusiness' Demeter Award of Excellence

Drawing from experiences built over 30 years leading mills around the country, Frances Churchill has been an inspiring educator for the next-generation of K-State millers, and for that work, she has now been named one of three outstanding women in agribusiness.

Frances Churchill

Women in Agribusiness, a national community of women in agribusiness, is recognizing Churchill as one of three recipients of the 2025 Demeter Award of Excellence. The distinction reflects outstanding women who have significant professional achievements, dismantled barriers and served as inspiring role models for other women in their industries.

Churchill has been at K-State since 2012, first as the North American Milling instructor and later professor of practice in the department of grain sciences and industry.

As a professor for one of the department's introductory classes, Churchill has been a face for grain sciences and has been intentional in making the subject exciting and engaging for her students. Students know her well for her “Six Layers of Fran” demonstration, where she dresses in six layers of brown clothing to represent the six layers of bran on a wheat kernel.

Prior to arriving at K-State, Churchill led a long and storied career, beginning at The Pillsbury Company and later transitioning to leadership roles at ConAgra Flour Milling Co, The Mennel Milling Company, General Mills and Knoxville Milling Company/C.H. Guenther & Sons

Churchill is an active member of the International Association of Operative Millers, or IAOM. She was the first woman to be elected as president in its 125-plus year history and was among the first women to serve on the association’s board of directors. She also chairs the IAOM Women in Milling Roundtable that began in 2020.

Churchill is credited with strengthening IAOM’s collaboration with other key industry partners through her thoughtful approach to cross-sector engagement that builds trust, and her focus on innovation, education and succinct communications.

“One of Fran’s most meaningful contributions has been her commitment to increasing visibility and inclusion for women in milling — a field historically lacking in gender diversity," said her one of her nominators, Melinda Farris, CEO of IAOM. "She is a leading advocate for IAOM’s Women in Milling initiative and frequently speaks about the importance of building community, mentoring young professionals, and removing barriers to entry."

Churchill will be celebrated and honored at the Women in Agribusiness Summit in September 2025.