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Yoder Looks to Opportunities
as NCGA President-Elect (10-22-01)
The
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has 32,000 members and represents
the interests of 300,000 U.S. corn growers. An organization of that
size and with that mission requires a lot of leadership. But at NCGA,
leadership is an abundant commodity.
Plain
City, Ohio, corn grower Fred Yoder has the skills and experience to
help lead NCGA as the new president-elect. He assumed his new duties
on Oct. 1, when Walsh, Colo., farmer Tim Hume became president of NCGA.
Yoder served a two-year stint as the Ohio Corn Growers Association president,
as well as wearing many hats within NCGA.
"I
have served on the various Biotech Task Forces and Working Groups for
the last four years for the Association and this past year served as
the Chairman of the Biotech Working Group," he said. "I have
served on the NCGA Board of Directors for the past two years before
being elected President-Elect this past summer as well as serving as
a member of the NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team for the
last four years."
Yoder
said this past year was filled with challenges. "It was the most
intense yet most rewarding time of my life with NCGA," he said.
"Being Chairman of the Biotech Working Group gave me a chance to
grow my leadership skills.
Yoder
has also demonstrated his leadership internationally, representing NCGA
on missions to the European Union in June and to Canada, discussing
the importance of biotechnology to U.S. growers.
"A
major challenge is to make biotechnology products available while protecting
the integrity of the U.S. corn crop in domestic and international market.
It's an issue we've have addressed in NCGA's meetings with all the biotech
providers," continued Yoder, "as well as all relevant US regulatory
agencies. We will continue to coordinate and communicate on this topic."
Yoder
also said there are four immediate issues he intends to focus on. "Passing
a comprehensive and fair farm bill which will meet the needs of our
growers," he said, "working to make ethanol an important part
of our Nation's energy security while promoting the benefits of renewable
and cleaner sources of fuel, and passing Trade Promotion Authority for
the President to promote global trade as a solution to many of agriculture's
troubles.
"We
must also continue to use the research funded by the checkoff dollars
of 20 grower states to open up new markets for corn growers and their
product," continued Yoder. "Now, more than ever, we need to
show the world what corn is capable of producing and how important the
nation's corn growers are in providing that resource."
Yoder
concluded by saying the events that are taking place around the globe,
new challenges await. "The coming year will be a new experience
for everyone," he said. Finding the right balance will be the challenge."
Last
reviewed October 22, 2001
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