KANSAS CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION

Today's Kansas Corn Growers Association was founded in 1975, although earlier versions of a regional or state corn growers organization existed prior to 1975. The organizing group consisted of farmers and university personnel who were focused on establishing the first commodity check-off program for corn in the United States. These people realized that more resources were needed for research, education, market development and promotion of Kansas and U.S. corn.

The first president of the Kansas Corn Growers Association was Earl Foote of Bucyrus. Mr. Foote, Loren Elliott of Mt. Hope and Warren Townsend of Leoti signed the association's articles of incorporation in 1975.

KCGA board members have served as leaders on the state and national level since the association's inception. In 1998, KCGA Board Member Roger Pine of Lawrence assumed the office of president of the National Corn Growers Association.

Kansas became the first state to establish a corn check-off program in 1977 when the Kansas Corn Commission was established by the Kansas Legislature. The Kansas Corn Commission is funded through a voluntary half cent-per-bushel producer check-off collected on the first commercial sale of corn. Producer check-off funds are used for research, market development, education and promotion. The commission cannot engage in or fund government relations or lobbying efforts. That role is the responsibility of the Kansas Corn Growers Association.

Most in-state programming of market development, education, communications and promotion are conducted by the KCGA on behalf of the Commission and the state's corn industry. The KCGA is funded through membership dues and service contracts.

The KCGA Board of Directors is made up of 12 members. Nine members represent the nine grower districts in Kansas; three members represent regional corn grower associations. The KCGA office is located in Garnett, a small farming community in east central Kansas.