Event News

By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media “Do you have your organization set up to be successful with a completely different demographic?” asked CGB’s human resources leader in a keynote address to more than 150 grain and feed facility managers and employees in Kansas City, Mo., last week. Mark Berry, vice president of human resources at CGB Enterprises Inc., noted during CONVEY17, the NGFA’s and Grain Journal Magazine’s operations and regulatory compliance conference, that 80 percent of baby boomers will retire over the next 10 years. Even now, most of the ... Read More

Registration is open for the NGFA’s and Grain Journal magazine’s Convey 2017, a newly redesigned and rebranded operations and regulatory compliance conference and trade show for the grain handling, processing, milling and feed industries. Convey, a successor to the former NGFA-Grain Journal Safety Conference, will focus annually on key regulatory compliance, safety and operational issues that are vital to facility managers and their key employees. A significant focus of Convey ’17 will be on the Trump administration’s regulatory philosophy and policy changes affecting the Occupational ... Read More

By Randy Gordon, President “Aspirational.”  “Challenging.”  “Truly a game-changer.” Those were a few of the terms used by NGFA Chairman John Heck of Scoular in his March convention address to describe the most recent version of the NGFA’s Long-Range Plan, which was approved later that afternoon by the Board of Directors. The NGFA engages in a vigorous long-range planning exercise every five years. It provides a great chance to take stock of trends that are reshaping the great industry we serve, assess the government representation, programs and services we provide, and retool the NGFA ... Read More

By Todd Kemp, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Treasurer In response to a fundraising campaign for the National Grain and Feed Foundation, NGFA members at last week’s 121st Annual Convention raised more than $50,000 for the National Grain and Feed Foundation. More than $20,000 more was generated by the NGFF Classic Golf Tournament, an annual event run as a benefit for the Foundation. All proceeds will be used to fund research and public education that benefit the grain, feed and processing industry. The NGFA’s First Vice Chairman, Eric Wilkey with Arizona Grain Co., also serves as ... Read More

NGFA Officers Reelected; Board and Executive Committee members also elected By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media The NGFA’s 121st Annual Convention attracted 700 NGFA members to New Orleans, where they discussed and debated industry priorities on trade, infrastructure and farm policy. During the Association’s annual business meeting, the membership reelected the NGFA’s industry officers to a second, one-year term. Reelected as NGFA chairman was John Heck, senior vice president, Scoular, Omaha, Neb. Reelected as NGFA first vice chairman was Eric Wilkey, ... Read More

By Randy Gordon, President I continue to be impressed by the energy, enthusiasm, commitment and sense of common purpose within the grain, feed, processing and export industry that always emanates from NGFA’s Annual Convention. But this year’s convention in New Orleans was something special. One member of NGFA’s Board of Directors emailed me the following message after returning home: “From the keynote speakers to the various activities throughout the convention, I have returned to our operation with renewed enthusiasm and commitment for the betterment of our industry today and into the ... Read More

NGFA’s 121st Annual Convention kicks off this weekend in New Orleans. The best way to keep track of events and meetings during the 2017 Annual Convention, which takes place March 19-21 at the Sheraton New Orleans, is the NGFA’s meeting smartphone app. The app, sponsored by Scoular, Advance Trading and Trip Builder EventMobile, includes the schedule, exhibitors, speakers, local New Orleans information, as well as the ability to personalize meetings. Attendees can download the app by typing www.tripbuildermedia.com/apps/ngfa2017 into their phone browsers. This year’s convention will ... Read More

Offered only once every other year, NGFA’s Seminar on Trading, Trade Rules and Arbitration provides attendees with a primer on contracting principles and trading practices designed to minimize costly trade disputes and contract non-performance. Registration is open for the 2017 Trade Rules Seminar, which takes place May 1 – 2 in Kansas City, Mo. Save money by registering before the early bird deadline on Monday, March 20. Everyone involved in contract execution should attend the seminar; please forward this link to any colleagues who could benefit from this valuable education. ... Read More