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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Gary Bradley, NCGA, 636-733-9004
Jill Wagenblast, ASA, 314-576-177
Johanns
to Deliver Keynote Address at Commodity Classic General Session
ST. LOUIS (February
11, 2005) -- Corn and soybean growers who attend Commodity Classic Feb.
24-26 in Austin, Texas, will be among the first farmers in the nation
to hear a personal address from new U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike
Johanns. Commodity Classic is the combined convention and trade show
of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the American Soybean
Association (ASA).
Johanns, who has
been an outspoken advocate of ethanol and other issues important to
corn and soybean growers, will deliver the keynote address during the
Commodity Classic general session, Feb. 25. NCGA President Leon Corzine
said speaking at the general session offers Johanns an excellent opportunity
to connect with thousands of the growers he’ll represent as the
nation’s top agriculture official.
“We’re
thrilled and honored to have Secretary Johanns joining us for this year’s
event,” Corzine said. “He’s been a longtime ally of
agriculture and our growers are excited about the opportunity to meet
him and hear what he has to say. The theme of our general session is
‘Growing America’s Future’ and Johanns’ outlook
on U.S. agriculture for the next four years will certainly tie in nicely
with the rest of the program.”
ASA President Neal
Bredehoeft said, “We are pleased that we will be able to welcome
Secretary Johanns to the 2005 Commodity Classic. He has a strong record
on trade promotion and has been a tireless proponent of biofuels in
Nebraska. We look forward to working with Secretary Johanns on important
soybean issues like biodiesel, trade and soybean rust.”
Born in Osage, Iowa,
and raised on a dairy farm, Johanns has a lifetime of experience in
agriculture. As governor of Nebraska, he advocated statewide economic
development by supporting construction of ethanol production plants
in rural areas and recruiting job creation and investment in urban and
rural areas.
Also as governor,
Johanns led trade missions to Asia, Australia and South America. He
is past chair of the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition and the Midwest
Governors’ Conference. He co-chaired the Governors' Public Power
Alliance and the Governors’ Biotech Partnership, and was vice-chair
of the Western Governors’ Association. Johanns also chaired the
National Governors Association Committee on Economic Development and
Commerce.
In addition to an
exciting general session, Commodity Classic offers cutting-edge learning
centers, demonstrations of the latest technology and an award-winning
trade show featuring more than 700 booths.
For more information
on Commodity Classic, log on to www.commodityclassic.com,
or call 1-636-928-3700.
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