The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) remembers the life of E. Thurman Gaskill who passed away recently. A one-time Iowa state senator and agricultural leader, Gaskill served as chairman of the U.S. Feed Grains Council (USFGC) in 1981. Gaskill’s work during his lifetime has impacted those in the ag community across the United States and around the globe.
During his time as Council chairman, Gaskill saw many changes that have impacted the work of the Council today – from the closing of the organization’s West European office to initiating activities in Latin America and China. Gaskill was a proponent of checkoff programs and was instrumental in the creation of the Iowa Corn Checkoff, urging Council members to support checkoff referendums taking place in many states at the time. Without his work in this area, the Council’s membership roster would look very different today.
“Looking back at his work and accomplishments, it’s clear that Mr. Gaskill was a force in our industry and I can see clearly how his contributions have had positive reverberations around the world in the work we continue to do,” said Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand. “We thank him for all he did to make the Council the premier organization it is today and send our condolences to his family.”
In addition to his service at the Council and in the Iowa Senate, Gaskill also was the first chairman of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, a president of the National Corn Growers Association, an Iowa Master Farmer and he was inducted into the Iowa State University Ag Hall of Fame.
Please join the Council in celebrating the life and accomplishments of E. Thurman Gaskill.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.