Incoming U.S. Grains Council Chairman Ron Gray announced the organization’s theme for the coming year of “Global Awareness, Global Connections,” at the conclusion of the Omaha meeting.

The theme, developed to guide major outreach programs during Gray’s tenure,  embraces the opportunities and partnerships that U.S. grain farmers enjoy, while acknowledging there is still work to be done to expand and improve global connections.

“Global awareness starts with us, and awareness leads to connections,” Gray said in a speech to USGC delegates.

“The Council’s work is individualized – each region, each nation and each situation is unique – just like a thumbprint,” Gray said. “Robust export markets are the result of demand building, trade agreements, transportation, trade servicing, confidence building, responsiveness and empathy, which are all things we can impact through awareness and connections.”

Gray, a farmer from Illinois, was selected for his new role during USGC’s 54th Annual Board of Delegates meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, last week.

He is a farmer from Claremont, Illinois, with 35 years of experience in production agriculture. He has also been a crop insurance agent for almost a decade.

A past chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Gray has been a delegate from that Board to the Council since 2002.

At the Omaha meeting, the Board of Delegates also elected the Council’s 2014-2015 Board of Directors. That body now includes:

Ron Gray, Chairman, Illinois Corn Marketing Board
Alan Tiemann, Vice Chairman, Nebraska Corn Board
Chip Councell, Secretary/Treasurer, Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board
Julius Schaaf, Past Chairman, Iowa Corn Promotion Board
Thomas Sleight, President and CEO, U.S. Grains Council
Steve Brody, Agribusiness Sector Director, DuPont Pioneer
Mark Seastrand, Barley Sector Director, North Dakota Barley Council
Dick Gallagher, Corn Sector Director, Iowa Corn Promotion Board
Bill Kubecka, Sorghum Sector Director, United Sorghum Checkoff Program
Craig Floss, State Checkoff Sector Director, Iowa Corn Promotion Board
Jim Tobin, At-Large Director, Monsanto
Jim Stuever, At-Large Director, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council
Charles Ring, At-Large Director, Texas Corn Producers Board
Deb Keller, At-Large Director, Iowa Corn Promotion Board

Click here to view photos from the Council’s summer annual meeting.