Miller, Whiteman Snipes, Ring Celebrate Five Years As Council Delegates

Grower delegates from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, including Josh Miller, Kelly Whiteman Snipes and David Ring were recognized for five years of service at the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 19th International Marketing Conference and 62nd Annual Membership Meeting in February.

Miller is an at-large member on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council’s board of directors. Additionally, he serves as the vice chairman of the Council’s board of directors.

As someone who lived overseas, primarily in Asia, for several years, Miller understands the importance of trade.

“I lived overseas for eight continuous years, so I was very aware of the importance of international trade,” Miller said. “When I bought our family’s farming operation, agriculture was something that moved to the top of my list. The Council seemed like a good fit for me in areas in which I had both interest and experience.”

Miller has served on the Asia A-Team during his five years, and he fondly recalls a Council trip to visit a wet milling operation in Indonesia.

“In Indonesia, we addressed the facility’s needs, concerns and quality desires. The gentleman we were meeting with commented that out of all the countries he did business with, nobody else took the time to schedule a meeting and sit down with them in-person to discuss their needs,” Miller said. “This was someone who had large purchasing power complementing us on taking time out of our day, scheduling a meeting to offer our help and assistance in facilitating the purchase of U.S. grains. He was impressed, and I think that touched all of us that he noticed what we were doing.”

Taking his overseas knowledge and experience into account, Miller emphasizes the role of America in feeding the world to growers in his community and state.

“At the end of the day, nobody produces ag products as well as the United States,” Miller said. “We have a great opportunity here to truly feed the world and we just need to understand that with most of the world’s population outside of our borders, exports are where we can have the opportunity for the largest growth.”

Whiteman Snipes also sees the benefit of the Council’s role in the agriculture

industry.

She and her husband grow corn, high oleic soybeans and alfalfa in northern Indiana. In addition to running the farm operation, Whiteman Snipes works in creative services. Her portfolio showcases work from a variety of industries, including agriculture.

Whiteman Snipes is the district II representative on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council’s board of directors and a member of the Council’s Innovation and Sustainability A-Team.

“I got involved with the U.S. Grains Council through my board seat on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council,” she said. “Indiana was looking to get more involved. I thought the experience would be an opportunity to get outside of my comfort zone and find involvement with the industry outside of our state.”

Within the state, though, she likes to remind her fellow growers of the work the Council does.

“It’s very easy for us as growers to raise a great crop and haul it to a first purchaser who we take for granted. I like to remind people that if we want to continue doing what we do, then we need to protect our current markets and foster relationships with new ones,” she said.

Like Whiteman Snipes, Ring takes every opportunity to talk about the work of the Council and how it promotes U.S. grains around the world.

Ring serves as an at-large member on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council’s board of directors. He is also active on the Council’s Western Hemisphere A-Team.

While Ring’s family farm grows corn, it also produces several other commodities.

“On our family farm we grow corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. We recently sold our dairy operation that had been on the farm for over 100 years; however, we still grow about 200,000 tom turkeys each year.”

During his five years with the Council, Ring has had the opportunity to visit Mexico several times with the organization.

“I really enjoyed the Corn Quality Report rollout trip to Mexico with Javier,” Ring said. “He is such a good representative for the U.S. Grains Council.”

Please join the Council in congratulating Josh, Kelly and David!