State Histories

MISSOURI CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION

Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) was organized in April 1978 at the Flaming Pit Restaurant in Columbia. Don Fischer, Corder, Missouri, was elected as the first president.

The following served on the first board of directors.

District 1	Cleo Philips, Cainsville
District 2	Jack Winklemen, Kirskville
District 3	Bob Schutte, Benton City
District 4	Kenneth Stock, Levasy
District 5	Raymond Stoll, Blackburn
District 6	Norman Saale, West Alton
District 7	Wendell Lee, Nevada
District 8	Bert Felton, Jr., Rogersville
District 9	Dave Brewer, Charleston
Directors at Large:	Jim Kircher, Harrisonville Bill Cook, Garden City Don Fischer, Corder

Steve Carpenter was hired as the first Executive Director in December 1983. A referendum to establish a one-half cent-per-bushel check off in Missouri was passed in December of 1984 thus forming the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.

It was the consensus that the same people should serve on both the Missouri Corn Growers Association and the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council Board of Directors. Ken Stock met with the Attorney General’s office to discuss having one board for both organizations. The Attorney General recommended that this be handled by the nominating committee of the Missouri Corn Growers Association.

The following were the first Board of Directors of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council:

District 1	Robert Gebhards Kent Kurtz
District 2	William C. Hansel John Guilford
District 3	Phil Aylward James Campbell
District 4	Ken Stock
District 5	Mark Harvey Bill Stouffer
District 6	John Pellet Rich Kaiser
District 7	Larry Strobel Nancy Heath

John Pellet served as the first Chairman of the Council and remained as Chairman through 1988. Rich Kaiser was elected Chairman in 1989. Ken Stock served as President of the Missouri Corn Growers Association from 1979 through 1986. Bob Gebhards served as President in 1987. Phil Aylward was elected President in 1988 and again in 1989.

In October of 1986, Gary D. Marshall was hired as the Director of Information and Education. In October of 1987, the office was moved from the basement of Carpenter’s home to its current offices in Capitol Plaza West in Jefferson City. In February of 1989, Gary D. Marshall was hired as the Executive Director.