By LAURIE KIEFABER

Indiana Correspondent

GREENTOWN, Ind. — For only the third time in history, a Hoosier has been elected to the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) Corn Board during the July Corn Congress in Washington, D.C.

Dennis "Denny" Maple, 65, Greentown, was among five farmers chosen by 124 voting delegates. Previous Hoosiers serving since the organization began in 1957 include Alan Kemper (NCGA 1989-90 president) and Russell Arndt (NCGA 1979-80 president).

The fourth-generation farmer said it's difficult to be elected because Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota tend to produce more corn and thus have more delegates. State delegate numbers are based on each state's membership, production, checkoff funds and other factors.

"I'm excited about it," Maple said. "And I'm excited that the rest of the delegates had enough confidence in me to elect me to the position. I look forward to just being involved in the whole process with other leaders from other states, helping steer policy and doing whatever we can for farmers."

Maple brings a lot of leadership experience to the position. He served on the Eastern Howard School Corporation Board 16 years and was board president about half those years, is an elder at Converse Church of Christ and been active in the Greentown Lions Club, which organizes the Howard County Fair each year. He was integral to starting an Indiana corn checkoff as a board member of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and served there as treasurer, vice president and president.

He also is chairman of the NCGA Corn Productivity and Quality Action Team, finance chair of the National Agriculture Genotyping Center, and a member of the Purdue Phenotyping Research Center Advisory Board. He recently served as a member of the Purdue Dean of Agriculture Advisory Board.

The father of three and grandfather of eight will start his three-year term Oct. 1, but it's his second time running for the post.

"I had a lot of people asked me to run, especially Indiana folks," Maple said. Board member candidates apply, provide credentials and service history and are interviewed. "You have to get other (state delegates) to know you, so you can get elected," he added.

Maple's father, Dick, also inspired him to run. "He said when you're involved, you can help get things done," Maple said in an NCGA Off the Cob July podcast of candidate interviews. "If you stand back (without involvement), you can't complain about the process."

The NCGA mission statement to (create and increase opportunities for corn growers) also had an impact and Maple intends to incorporate his leadership style: "A good leader needs to be a good listener and doer," he said in the podcast. "The best leaders lead by example, make sure tasks are done and are able to collaborate with others."

Aside from growing 1,200 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat, Maple understands the grain needs of pork producers. He and his wife of 45 years, Rita — a third generation farmer — raise 3,200 hogs per year:

"The market is going to be depressed and it's going to break some people. We're oversupplied with pork and with the trade imbalance and tariffs we have to fight through it. We want a level playing field."

Maple said he is still learning about his board responsibilities and his training begins this week.

Along with Maple, taking office on Oct. 1 – the start of NCGA’s 2019 fiscal year – are other new board members Deb Gangwish of Nebraska and Harold Wolle Jr. of Minnesota. Current board members Bruce Rohwer of Iowa and Jeff Sandborn of Michigan were reelected. Gangwish, Rohwer and Wolle were also elected to three-year terms; Sandborn will serve the unexpired one-year term left open by Kevin Ross, now NCGA’s first vice president-elect.