NCGA Announces 2005 Recruiter Hall of Fame Class (12-12-05)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Grower Services Action Team has named three members to the Recruiter Hall of Fame. Pat Dumoulin of Hampshire, Ill., William “Polk” Glover of Obion, Tenn., and Merrill Grisham of Gaylord, Minn. will be inducted into the NCGA Recruiter Hall of Fame at Commodity Classic in February.

These individuals were selected for their long time dedication to growing NCGA and their state association’s membership. 

“These recruiters share NCGA’s story with hundreds of corn growers across the nation,” said Dave Boettger, NCGA GSAT chairman. “Inducting them into the Recruiter Hall of Fame is NCGA’s way of honoring all the hard work they put into making our organization stronger.”

The membership recruiter program is sponsored by Syngenta Seeds.

Domoulin has been an active recruiter for more than 15 years, averaging more than 50 recruits a year. She was Third Place winner for the Surpass Division in 2001.

“NCGA and the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) certainly help me in indirect ways,” Domoulin said. “For example, what we’ve done on the farm bill. That has helped me as a corn and livestock producer.”

Domoulin added her farm benefits greatly from the work NCGA accomplishes on Capitol Hill and ICGA’s efforts in Springfield, Ill., particularly in the area of trade.

“Membership is always important and numbers do mean something,” she said. “It matters when we go to Capitol Hill, whether at the federal or state level.”

Domoulin said ICGA’s board holds membership writing nights to recruit growers, sending out about 100 letters every few months.

Glover has been an active recruiter for more than 12 years, averaging more than 50 recruits per year. Like Domoulin, he tells Tennessee growers about the presence NCGA has on Capitol Hill.

“We sell them on clout,” Glover said. “Being a corn and soybean grower, you have to be sure to promote your product. I tell them NCGA has done a lot for them.”

Merill Grisham was an active recruiter for many years and was the fourth place winner for the Top Recruiter Program in 2004. Merrill will be honored posthumously. Merrill passed away in February. GSAT Vice Chairman Tim Dolan said Grisham emphasized all corn growers needed to come together to ensure a bright future for corn.

“He told potential recruits they had to join,” Dolan said. “It’s too important not to. The future depends on it, making sure corn growers are working with the organization nationally to have good farm programs.”

Dolan said Grisham had a famous line he used.

“He used to say, ‘If you’re growing corn and you’re not a member, there’s a problem,’” Dolan said. “He said we need all corn growers to be a part of this organization.”