South Dakota Corn Growers commemorate 25 years

Variety of presentations will highlight annual meeting in Sioux Falls

The South Dakota Corn Growers Association (SDCGA) will celebrate its 25th anniversary Jan. 22 by bringing in leading national and state agricultural experts for its annual meeting at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

The day’s informational seminars will be headed by economist and futurist Jay Lehr, agricultural analyst Sue Martin and social media specialists Troy and Stacy Hadrick, who are ranchers from Faulkton. There also will be a panel discussion about emerging opportunities in agriculture, featuring representatives of Raven Industries, Sanford Health and the U.S. Grains Council.

Barry Dunn, the dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University, will be the luncheon speaker. The dean’s chair is endowed by the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, which oversees a One-cent Check-off program that funds research and marketing for corn and corn byproducts.

Dunn will talk about iGrow, a free web-based service that provides producers with information about markets, weather, management practices, research and trade.

During an evening banquet, the Corn Growers will present four special annual awards: Legislative Appreciation; Excellence in Public Outreach; Excellence in Agriculture; and MVP in Agriculture.

“We have an outstanding lineup of speakers and we’re going to recognize several dedicated individuals who have made a significant impact on agriculture in our state,” SDCGA President Gary Duffy of Oldham said. “This year’s meeting is special because we can reflect upon 25 years of achievements in the corn industry. We look forward to even more success as our association starts the next quarter century of service.”

More than 1,000 producers, legislators and industry partners are expected to attend the gathering, which has grown into one of the largest one-day agricultural events in South Dakota. U.S. Sen. John Thune and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem will be among those in attendance.

An evening banquet will be followed by music by rock ‘n’ roll icon Chubby Checker, whose 1960 No. 1 hit song “The Twist” inspired a dance craze.
The day-long informational seminars are free and open to the public. The lunch program is $10. Tickets for the evening banquet are $60 for SDCGA members and $125 for non-members.

For a full agenda of the day’s events, visit www.sdcorn.org

Schedule of presentations:

9 a.m. – “Will Demand Continue to Push Grain/Soy Prices Higher in 2011?”
Sue Martin of Ag. & Investment Services, who writes about agricultural trends for AG Week newspaper and is an analyst on the “Market to Market” TV program, will provide insight about corn and soybean markets and how U.S. producers will be affected by what’s happening in China.

10:15 a.m. – “Emerging Opportunities in Agriculture”
Panelists from Raven Industries, Sanford Health and the U.S. Grains Council will cover a variety of topics that include new technology, healthcare changes and opportunities, and the export potential and hurdles in China.

12:30 p.m. – Lunch and noon program
Barry Dunn, dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University, is the featured speaker.

1:30 p.m. – “Networking Over the Net: Using Social Media to Tell Your Story”
Troy and Stacy Hadrick, fifth-generation ranchers from Faulkton, have used YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to fight anti-agriculture groups and spread a positive message about farming and ranching. The founders of Advocates for Agriculture will demonstrate the benefits of social.

2:45 p.m. – “What’s So Great About American Agriculture? Just About Everything!”
Jay Lehr, an economist and futurist known for his foresight and endless energy will educate and entertain as he takes a comprehensive look at the current and future states of agriculture. He’ll talk about the public’s misconceptions about farming and what needs to be done to change those.

6 p.m. – “Corn Hop” evening banquet
Awards will be presented and retiring board members will be recognized. Chubby Checker and the Wild Cats will provide the entertainment.