GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The delegates of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) elected Mark Wilson of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board as chairman of its USGC Board of Directors at its 65th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting held in Grand Rapids, MI, today.
“I am humbled for the opportunity you have given me to represent you around the world, and I want to thank you for the confidence that you have in me,” Wilson said. “I want to thank all of the past chairmen for their leadership and dedication that they have given to this organization who have encouraged and inspired me to get more involved with the Council.”
Wilson operates a farm in Toulon, Illinois, where he grows corn and soybeans and has farmed full-time since 1988. Wilson has served as a Council delegate for 10 years and is a member of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. He previously served as the corn sector director, Innovation & Sustainability A-Team lead, Asia A-Team lead, Farm Progress Show manager for USGC and chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.
In addition to Wilson, the delegates elected Jay Reiners of the Nebraska Corn Board as vice chairman and Jay Fischer of the Missouri Corn Growers Association as secretary-treasurer. Dylan Rosier of the Missouri Corn Merchandizing Council and Greg Alber of Iowa Corn Growers Association were also elected as at-large directors. The newly elected sector directors are Sean Broderick from CHS as the agribusiness sector director, Jolene Riessen of the Iowa Corn Growers Association as the corn sector director and Matthew Horlacher of Washington Grain Commission and Cold Stream Malt & Grain as the barley sector director.
The USGC Board of Directors now includes:
- Mark Wilson, Illinois Corn Marketing Board: Chairman
- Jay Reiners, Nebraska Corn Board: Vice Chairman
- Jay Fischer, Missouri Corn Growers Association: Secretary-Treasurer
- Verity Ulibarri, United Sorghum Checkoff Program: Past Chairwoman
- Jennie Schmidt, Maryland Grains Producer Utilization Board: At-Large Director
- Curt Mether, Iowa Corn Growers Association: At-Large Director
- Dylan Rosier, Missouri Corn Merchandizing Council: At-Large Director
- Greg Alber, Iowa Corn Growers Association: At-Large Director
- Sean Broderick, CHS: Agribusiness Sector Director
- Craig Willis, Eco-Energy: Ethanol Sector Director
- Jolene Riessen, Iowa Corn Growers Association: Corn Sector Director
- Adam Schindler, United Sorghum Checkoff Program: Sorghum Sector Director
- Josh Roe, Kansas Corn Commission: State Checkoff Sector Director
- Matthew Horlacher, Washington Grain Commission and Cold Stream Malt & Grain: Barley Sector Director
- Ryan LeGrand, U.S. Grains Council: President and CEO
Wilson shared his goals for the year and unveiled his chairman’s theme, The Time Is Now, during his incoming remarks.
“To assure you that the Council understands the urgency of the current trade climate, I want to reveal my chairman’s theme for the year, The Time Is Now,” Wilson said. “I promise that I will do everything that I can to keep your crops and products moving because I know how important this is for you.”