Council’s IMC, Annual Meeting Concludes With Board Of Delegates Meeting

Austin, TX – Members of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) wrapped up the Council’s 22nd International Marketing Conference and 65th Annual Membership Meeting, held Feb. 12-14, in Austin, Texas, with its board of delegates meeting and speakers highlighting Chairwoman Verity Ulibarri’s theme to Cultivate the Future.

Ulibarri moderated the day’s agenda, which included a summary of the conference’s highlights thus far and administrative and financial reporting on the Council’s activities to promote transparency and organizational health well into the future.

USGC Director in Mexico Heidi Bringenberg then moderated a panel featuring Ken Ericksen, senior leader and strategic advisor to commodities, supply chain logistics and transportation for Polaris Analytics and Consulting and Eugenio Leal, director of marketing and sales in the Mexico market for Union Pacific Railroad. The panel discussed transportation and railway operations in Mexico.

“Port Laredo is our top key gateway for USGC products, corn, sorghum, barley and co-products including ethanol, and it has grown 8-9% in one year,” Bringenberg said. “El Paso, Eagle Pass, Brownsville, Nogales and Mexicali are also showing significant growth, with Eagle Pass exhibiting a 70% growth in the past year.

“We want to be sure to focus our experts on how we are gearing to prepare for this growth, what kind of challenges are we seeing in this system and what can we do to advocate to continue these flows.”

A follow-up panel, moderated by Ulibarri included discussions by USGC overseas directors on unique programs, opportunities and developments from USGC Regional Director in South Asia Reece Cannady, USGC Regional Director in Europe, the Middle East and Africa Ramy Taieb and USGC Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania Caleb Wurth.

“It takes a lot of legwork to create and maintain markets for U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, ethanol and DDGS overseas, and we have boots on the ground around the world to help ensure our markets continue to grow,” Ulibarri said. “We thought it was appropriate to give an update on some of the more recent actions the Council has taken in pursuit of our mission to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives around the world.”

Council delegates reviewed the proposed bylaw changes proposal and recognized members and staff who recently reached milestones of service to the organization for their accomplishments. Additionally, the Council’s Advisory Teams (A-Teams) presented the results of their discussions at the meeting and USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand closed the meeting.

The U.S. Grains Council will gather in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the 65th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting from July 30 to August 1. More from the 22nd International Marketing Conference And 65th Annual Membership Meeting is available on social media using the hashtag #Grains25 or through the website here.