The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) was proud to recognize Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board (WCPB) Director Ken Rosenow for his incredible 40 years of service to the organization during its 22nd International Marketing Conference and 65th Annual Membership Meeting, held last week in Austin, Texas.
“What really got me interested in the Wisconsin corn program? I have to give my dad all the credit for that,” Rosenow said. “I’m a fourth-generation farmer and he always provided an example for me that no matter how hard you work on your farm, there are so many things that happen in agriculture off your farm, which you might not think you’re involved with that really make a bigger difference to the success of your farm than what you do at home.”
Rosenow became familiar with the Council when he volunteered to join a trade mission to Japan, Korea and Taiwan as a representative from the WCPB, and from then on his interest in helping develop export markets for U.S. agricultural products only grew.
“We had a group from Japan sitting at our dining room table there, and my wife made barbecued steak and apple pie and typical Wisconsin foods like that and they really appreciated that,” Rosenow said. “Customers like to get to know your family, when they see you’ve been doing this for generations and generations and you’re proud of what you produce.”
Outside of his work on the farm, Rosenow enjoys spending time by the lake with his wife, children and grandchildren and encourages his fellow producers to get involved in local and national associations.
“What really makes a difference in the price we get is the news on market reports. It’s the export announcements that make the market go down or up and it’s those last bushels left on the balance sheet that determine our price,” Rosenow said. “So if you can get export demand and get those last bushels out of the country, that’s what really makes it successful and profitable for farmers.”
Please join the Council in thanking Ken for his service!
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.