Michigan farmers spring free groceries for a year on 3

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. — Michigan’s farmers are thanking the consumers of the state for their support of agriculture by helping to pay their grocery bills. In fact, three Michigan consumers are the lucky winners of free groceries for a year, courtesy of Michigan’s farmers, following a 90-day sweepstakes.

The three winners, drawn at random from more than 200,000 Michigan consumer registrations, are Ron Barnes, Detroit; Twila Kock, Grand Rapids; and Greg Napolitan, Kalamazoo. Groups of Michigan farmers presented each of the winners with a gift card for $5,000 in free groceries, which can be redeemed at their preferred grocery retailer.

For three months, residents from across the state were invited to visit www.FarmersFeedUS.org to register for a chance to win. While doing so, they also had the opportunity to meet 10 Michigan farmers and take a video tour of their farms.

While the sweepstakes registration is over, the website, featuring information about agriculture in the state, will remain live.

NPPC inducts two into Hall of Fame

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture economist Glenn Grimes, professor emeritus at the University of Missouri, and former Iowa state senator and “Master Pork Producer” John Soorholtz, were inducted into the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Hall of Fame March 6 for their outstanding contributions to the pork industry.

Grimes was honored for pioneering pork industry economic outlooks, the pork demand index and practical application of gilt data. In 1983, he began a 20-year consulting relationship with the NPPC. Grimes, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture economics from the University of Missouri, worked for the school for more than 58 years. He has been honored by many state and national organizations for his impact on the industry, providing expertise to dozens of pork-industry and agricultural partners.

Soorholtz was part of the so-called Moline 90 group, which provided resources to hire the first full-time executive secretary for NPPC. He also was behind the “Nickels for Profit” program – a forerunner to the pork checkoff – that was piloted in Iowa and Illinois and focused on promoting pork while educating consumers. Soorholtz served as president of the Iowa Pork Producers Assoc. in the 1970s, and in 1983 he was elected to the Iowa Senate.

USGC calls for board, officer applications

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in standing for election at the USGC Board of Delegates meeting in Boston, Mass., July 19, to fill expiring board of directors positions, or to become the next officer of the board.

The Nominating Committee will consider all applications received by April 30, and will announce the slate of candidates by June 1. Two at-large director positions are up for election this year, as well as the sorghum and state executive board positions. The board of delegates will also be electing a new secretary to begin a five-year rotation in the Council’s board officers.

Application forms will also be available in The GRAINS Center, the members-only section of the Council’s website, at www.grains.org

GTL makes leadership shifts

ROCHELLE, Ill. — GTL Resources and it subsidiary, Illinois River Energy (IRE), announced changes in senior leadership in February to better position both companies for success and growth.
Neal Jakel has joined the IRE team and is transitioning into the role of general manager. He will also be involved in business development activities helping to advance both companies’ growth agendas. He is a chemical engineer who most recently served as program leader at Delta-T Corp., a leading biofuel technology provider.

Vince Kwasniewski, general manager of IRE, will be transitioning into the role of vice president of Business Development and commercial director for GTL Resources. He will have responsibility for business development activities at GTL and its subsidiaries and will maintain responsibility for commodity risk management oversight at IRE. He is also relocating his primary office to Itasca, Ill.

Waterways Council honors Grassley with award

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — National Corn Growers Assoc. CEO Rick Tolman presented the Waterways Council’s Leadership Award to U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) during the annual Waterways Council Leadership Award dinner earlier this year.

The award is given annually to a leader who has worked to support the nation’s inland waterways infrastructure. According to Tolman, Grassley was one of the principal leaders in the effort to get the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, and received the award in part for “his steadfast support over five terms in Congress for the improvement of the nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system.”

Bredesen honored by Tennessee cattlemen

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Phil Bredesen recently met with members of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Assoc. (TCA) to recognize the organization’s 25th anniversary and the importance of cattle production to the state’s rural economy.

At the meeting, TCA President Steve Scott of Giles County presented Bredesen with a custom-made cowboy hat in recognition of his support for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP).

The TAEP was established in 2005 by Bredesen and supported by the Tennessee General Assembly to help farmers invest in infrastructure and best management practices that increase farm profitability. Since the program’s inception, more than $40 million has been invested in nearly 15,500 farm projects across the state, including cattle genetic improvement and livestock handling equipment purchases.