NCGA announces leaders for the coming year

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — The National Corn Growers Assoc. Corn Board announced the farmers who became the members and leaders of the organization’s action teams, committees and working groups for the 2011 fiscal year, as of Oct. 1.

Team leaders are listed below, as well as the liaisons for each team from the Corn Board:

•Ethanol Committee: Keith Alverson of South Dakota, chair; Chad Willis of Minnesota, vice chair; Clark Gerstacker of Michigan, liaison

•Grower Services Action Team: Brandon Hunnicutt of Nebraska,
chair; Bill Berg of Ohio, vice chair; Pam Johnson of Iowa, liaison

•Production and Stewardship Action Team: Steve Ebke of Nebraska, chair; Dean Taylor of Iowa, vice chair; Guy Davenport of North Carolina, liaison

•Public Policy Action Team: Anthony Bush of Ohio, chair; Mike Clemens of North Dakota, vice chair; Daryl Haack of Illinois, liaison

•Research and Business Development Action Team: Larry Hasheider of Illinois, chair; Jay Nissen of North Dakota, vice chair; Dave Nelson of Iowa, liaison

•Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team: Chad Blindaur of South Dakota, chair; Jim Zimmerman of Wisconsin, vice chair; Mike Geske of Missouri, liaison

In addition, the following growers will lead Corn Board-specific committees: Finance, Jerry Larson of Minnesota; Association Relations, Bill Chase of South Dakota; Nominating, Darrin Ihnen of South Dakota; Bylaws, Jon Holzfaster of Nebraska; and 2011 Commodity Classic, Theresa Schmalshof of Illinois.

Ducks Unlimited rewards Daniels for conservation

LINTON, Ind. — Ducks Unlimited (DU) recently recognized Gov. Mitch Daniels for his support of conservation in Indiana.

Daniels received the Conservation Leadership Award for his efforts to make Indiana a leader in public land conservation at a celebration of conservation achievements at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA). Conservationists gathered to acknowledge the acquisition of an 8,064-acre property in Greene County.

Goose Pond FWA had been drained and ditched for agricultural use during the beginning of the last century. Recent efforts have focused on restoring the once thriving wetland to high-quality habitat. The area has become a destination for birders who enjoy viewing an especially diverse list of species.

DU worked with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the North American Wetlands Conservation Council and 11 other conservation partners to acquire and restore this property. The Goose Pond FWA was acquired through a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant and restored through both the Wetlands Reserve Program and additional smaller NAWCA grants.

Seeking nominees for Ag Relations Council awards

Chicago, Ill.  — The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) has issued a call for entries for the 2011 Golden ARC Awards. The annual competition will include 37 categories for public relations activities conducted in full or part in 2010.

Entries in the 2011 Golden ARC Awards are due to contest headquarters on or before Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. The Golden ARC Awards program began in 1990. The contest recognizes the stellar work created by professionals in the agricultural industry.

The format and requirements for the Golden ARC Awards are similar to other leading PR awards programs, based on best practices for public relations and public affairs campaigns and tactics. Categories fall into two divisions: Campaigns and Tactics. A student category is also available.

The contest is open to both ARC and non-ARC members. The entry fee for the first entry for non-ARC members is $300 (includes a membership fee). Additional entries are $125 each. Winners will receive their honors at the ARC annual meeting Feb. 23-25, 2011, in Fort Myers, Fla.

More information is available at www.GoldenARCawards.com or at the ARC website, www.agrelationscouncil.org

GROWMARK members elect their directors

CHICAGO, Ill. — GROWMARK, Inc. of Bloomington, Ill., announced the results of board director and officer elections, held in conjunction with the regional cooperative’s annual meeting in Chicago.

Six of the cooperative’s 16 director seats, established by geographic zone, were elected and will serve three-year terms. GROWMARK’s six established governance zones cover all of North America; there are multiple directors per zone. One at-large director represents Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin Farm Bureaus (GROWMARK is affiliated with Farm Bureau in those states). Directors include:

Zone A – Dan Kelley of Normal, Ill., has served on the GROWMARK Board since 1995. He has been chairman of the board and president since 2000.

Zone B – Chet Esther of Frederick, Ill., has served on the GROWMARK Board since 1994. He serves as president of Two Rivers FS, Inc.

Zone C – John Reifsteck of Champaign, Ill., has served on the GROWMARK Board since 1993, and is vice chairman.

Zone D – Kevin Herink of Clutier, Iowa, was elected to his first term on the GROWMARK Board. Since 1987, Herink has served several terms on his local cooperative boards and is currently vice president of the board of New Century FS.

Zone F – Denis Bourdeau of Embrun, Ontario, has served on the GROWMARK Board since 2007.

At-Large Farm Bureau – Jim Anderson of Thompsonville, Ill., is the interlocking Farm Bureau director. He served 11 years as president of his county Farm Bureau and 15 years on the local FS board.
Also, Ray Steffens of West Union, Iowa, has retired from the board. He was elected in 1999. He and his wife, Pam, farm 1,500 acres with their son. They also operate a custom hog feeding operation and milk registered Holsteins. Steffens serves as vice president of AgVantage FS.

FMC appoints Foster N.A. product manager

Philadelphia, Pa. — FMC Corp. announced the promotion of Matt Foster to the position of product manager in the company’s North America Crop (NAC) Marketing group, Agricultural Products Group. In this new position, Foster will take charge of the crop segment and regional work for Authority and Spartan herbicide brands in soybeans and sunflowers, respectively.

Foster first joined FMC as an assistant Midwestern regional business manager in 2009. Prior to joining FMC, he served in the Agrilliance/ProSource One organization, where he undertook a variety of sales and management assignments in the Midwest and the South.

Foster earned his MBA from Tulane University in New Orleans. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. He will be based out of FMC headquarters in Philadelphia.