An Egyptian dairy farmer sparked 10 years of involvement with the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) for one Arkansas farmer.

Tommy Young of Newport, Arkansas, represented the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board on a USGC mission to Morocco and Egypt back then, where he met an Egyptian dairy farmer who had started his operation with five cows in downtown Cairo and expanded to the countryside with 50 cows in four years.

“I saw firsthand the good work the Council was doing, primarily making a difference to where people had better lives,” Young said. “They were making their herds larger and consequently that put more mouths at the trough, and we were sending more corn there, and people were living better.” 

Young realized that while Arkansas could not conduct this level of promotion on their own, the state organization could promote market development work similar to what he witnessed through support for the Council and its matching funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Since joining the Council, Young has served on two USGC Advisory Teams, committees of subject matter experts who provide input on the direction, priorities and activities of the Council. He said he values the time spent evaluating Council projects, particularly participation from Arkansas in three Export Exchange conferences and Young’s personal role in a mission to re-introduce grain sorghum in European livestock feed. 

“The Council is a wonderful organization working to move this mountain of corn we raise,” Young said. “It makes me feel good to know I am making a difference through this national organization.” 

“I tell my fellow farmers here in Arkansas, ‘Believe it or not, but as you are driving a tractor down the rows, you are also helping improve lives thousands of miles away through your checkoff dollars.” 

Editor’s note: USGC recognizes individual staff, delegates and directors for major anniversaries of their service to the organization. Look for more of these stories here or in future editions.