The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recognized staff members who reached milestone 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.
The Council presented commemorative plaques to Program Manager Wennie Liu for her 10 years of service and to India Director Reece Cannady; Director of Communications Bryan Jernigan; Taiwan Director Michael Lu and Senior Programs Coordinator Linda Li for their five years of service.
“Over the course of my journey with the Council, I have had the privilege of engaging in diverse programs spanning across the dairy industry, nutrient management, malting barley and more. This multifaceted experience has been a rich source of learning and personal growth,” Liu said. “The Council holds immense value in the agriculture industry through its dedicated efforts to foster the industry’s global development and serves as a linchpin in connecting various stakeholders, driving innovation and contributing to the overall growth of the grains sector.”
“The Council’s work shows value not only to the farmer at home via increased demand for their products, but also to the global population. Trade of American agricultural products can have an incredible impact on the world’s livelihood,” Cannady said. “From ethanol being a sustainable solution to climate change and air pollution, to corn and DDGS lowering animal protein prices, to the nutritious benefits of sorghum and barley in human diets, the Council is helping find win-win solutions wherever they are needed.”
“I never thought a country boy from Oklahoma would ever see a grain storage and handling site in Lumut, Malaysia, like I did after just a few weeks with the Council, and other educational visits since then,” Jernigan said. “It has been a whirlwind so far, but it has been essential to help me better understand the hard work that goes into finding homes for U.S. grains around the world and my role within it. To think that we do this work every single day in almost every corner of the world is mind-blowing, humbling and gratifying.”
“My most memorable journey was guiding a grain quality survey team to visit farms, ethanol plants, silos, port elevators and biotech centers in Missouri, Illinois and Washington, just two weeks after joining the Council,” Lu said. “Working at the Council has offered me valuable insights into various aspects of the agriculture industry such as knowledge about grain production, marketing and trade and a better grasp on the intricate dynamics of the global grains market.”
Please join the Council in congratulating Wennie, Reece, Bryan, Michael and Linda!
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.