NCGA President Ken McCauley (right) congratulates Kip Cullers of K-K Farms in Purdy, Mo. Cullers took first place honors in the 2006 Irrigated Class and the No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated Class categories of the National Corn Yield Contest.

NCGA Honors Past, Applauds Future at Awards Banquet (3-5-07)

Looking out at the more than 1,000 people in attendance at the annual National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Awards Banquet March 2 in Tampa, Fla., NCGA President Ken McCauley described his role of representing the nation’s corn growers as “awesome and humbling.”

McCauley spoke as NCGA paid honor to 50 years of service to American agriculture. In a special tribute to NCGA founder, the late Walter Goeppinger, the audience listened as Goeppinger’s son, Neil, recalled that his father was urged to start an organization specifically for corn growers by then-President Dwight Eisenhower.

Goeppinger said his father always knew NCGA’s strength would come from its members. “We need you and all other farmers behind us,” Walter Goeppinger would tell each member when they joined.

The evening was highlighted by the recognition of the 27 National Corn Yield Contest winners and the recruiting achievements of individuals and state organizations.

Eleven states showed membership growth in 2006. Minnesota had the largest number of new members, while Indiana had the largest percentage growth. Richard Harer was named NCGA’s Top Recruiter, enrolling 609 members in 2006. Darrin Ihnen and Douglas Toreen also were recognized for their efforts.

Harer, Gaye Bergstrom and Barbara Fulcher-Reynolds were inducted into the NCGA Recruiter Hall of Fame, while Leslie Roach was cited as the Hall of Famer Recruiter of the Year. The Awards Banquet was sponsored by BASF Corporation, Bayer Crop Science and John Deere.

NCGA concluded its business activities at a March 3 session of the Corn Congress. The Classic formally ended Saturday night as country music star Collin Raye headlined the “Evening of Entertainment” sponsored by Monsanto.