At the upcoming 54th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, July 28-30, 2014, the U.S. Grains Council will recognize two individuals who have been outstanding leaders over many years of dedicated service to the Council.

For Nathan Boardman, the Council delegate for Boardman Enterprises, involvement with the Council began 35 years ago at a meeting in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. For Owen Newlin, who initially was a Council delegate for Pioneer Hi-Bred and is now the delegate for the American Seed Trade Association, the track record is even longer – a remarkable 45 years.

Recognition of Newlin and Boardman is also recognition for the unique role ASTA has played in supporting USGC market development efforts.

“When I first got involved as a young guy with ASTA, to be selected [for the Council’s board] was an honor and an opportunity to be part of a real network,” Boardman said. “It’s a pretty small number of people, but they are proactive leaders.

“I’ve appreciated the relations with producers, the seed industry, agribusiness and the Council’s professional staff all these years. It’s been one of the highlights – building markets so producers can sell every bushel they grow. The Council is the number one reason our growers can get the best possible prices. Without exports, that would not be so.”

ASTA’s participation, under Newlin’s leadership, brought-in more than 20 seed trade representatives from across the industry into the Council.

Looking forward, Boardman believes producer checkoff funding will be critical for Council success.

“I think there’s a great opportunity for checkoffs to be the leaders in building markets,” he says. “Proactive participation from producers has been key to moving the Council forward, especially making the Council very active in eliminating trade barriers. Those are the things that build the infrastructure for trade to have a great future.”