A professional who tends steep tanks to soften corn and other grains preparatory to grinding. Respnsibilities include:

• Opens hatch and chute gate leading to steep tank, and signals grain receiver to load tank with grain.
• Turns valves and starts pumps to fill tank with steep-water to specified level.
• Observes thermometers and opens steam valves to heat tank to specified temperature.
• Tests specific gravity of water in tanks, using hydrometer, to determine when steeping process is complete.
• Records data, such as number of batches and bushels steeped, length of steeping cycle, and temperature and specific gravity of each batch.
• May prepare grinding schedules to facilitate production.
• May operate sulfur burner to regulate sulfuric acid concentration in steep water, millhouse, and starch wash water.
• May work as member of team and be designated according to position as Bottom Steep Tender; Top Steep Tender.