The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recognized five members for their 10 years of service to the organization at its 21st International Marketing Conference and 64th Annual Membership Meeting in Guatemala City, Guatemala, held Feb. 14-16.
Dan Cole and Dirk Rice of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Chad Willis of the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, Curt Mether of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Charles Ray Huddleston of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program all received commemorative plaques to recognize their achievements.
Continue reading below to learn more about their experiences with the Council.
“We as American farmers have worldwide recognition and credibility, and it’s so important we endorse the Council and it’s staff in every country we do business in,” Cole said. “It’s easy for us as farmers because we have the best people in the world of agriculture representing us internationally.”
“The most important thing I’ve learned with the Council is the amount of effort that goes into establishing and maintaining trade partners. I wouldn’t have known otherwise that there’s an organization identifying emerging markets and laying the groundwork for U.S. farmers to sell their grain years before it might become a reality,” Rice said. “The forward thinking and planning that the staff at the Council does is very impressive, and it was a privilege to be a part of it.”
“Looking back, I would say my favorite memory is the joint officers’ mission to Morocco and Tunisa during my tenure as Council chairman. I was also fortunate to be able to go to Morocco during my first year on the board and I was amazed at the Council’s accomplishments there over the years,” Willis said. “Being able to bring other Council board members and staff to see the work being done there was important to me as a leader.”
“From the very first meeting I attended, I was impressed with how the Council worked all over the world on our behalf,” Mether said. “It is amazing how they work through disruptions, tariffs, duties and politics to make trade happen.”
Please join the Council in congratulating this group of award recipients.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.