Two Farmer Leaders Recognized For 10 Years Of Service As Delegates

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recognized two farmer delegates for 10 years of service at the virtual 18th International Marketing Conference and 61st Annual Membership meeting earlier this month: Sparky Crossman and Gary Porter.

Crossman serves as Virginia Corn Checkoff Board chairman, a position he has held for 11 years. Not too long after he began his journey with his state board, he got involved with the Council.

“I spent several years on the Virginia Corn Board focusing on farmers’ needs in Virginia, but when I was asked to join the Council, I didn’t hesitate,” Crossman said. “I realized this was my opportunity to help farmers in my home state and hopefully help farmers across the country and the world.”

Crossman has participated in the USGC Rest of the World advisory team (A-Team) which later became the Western Hemisphere team. In addition to serving on the A-Team, he recalls some of his fondest memories with the Council participating in trade missions.

“When I first joined the Council, I went with the Middle East/Africa A-Team on a mission, with Kurt Shultz as our leader. We visited Morocco, Egypt and Jordan,” Crossman said. “After my first experience, I have been on missions to Canada, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. Just meeting and seeing the people was very educational for me.”

Gary Porter, who has served 13 years with the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, was also honored for 10 years of service as a delegate to the Council. He applied to serve on the National Corn Growers Association’s National Corn Board and was just elected to serve a second term. Like Crossman, Porter served on the Rest of the World (ROW) and Western Hemisphere A-Teams as well as the Ethanol A-Team. Porter participated in the Council’s 2016 Corn Producers Mission to Taiwan and the 2019 Sonora stinger kickoff mission to Mexico.

“The corn quality roll out in Taiwan was one of my favorite missions,” Porter said. “One meeting was with a room full of people and was scheduled for 30 minutes, but it turned into an hour and a half. It was filled with so many questions and was so much fun.”

During his time with the Council, Porter has recognized the importance of the Council’s work to improve lives around the globe.

“Before serving on the Council, I had no idea what the organization did. Now I see how important the Council’s work is,” Porter said. “The stinger Missouri Corn sent to Mexico to improve the unloading of [distiller’s dried grains with solubles] is a great example. It means a lot to farmers to be able to aid in improving the world.”

Please join us in congratulating these farmer leaders on their 10 years of service!

Read more recognition stories about long-time USGC leaders.