Five deserving young college students from all over the nation were awarded the first NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarships, sponsored by BASF, at the Commodity Classic on Friday.
Ken McCauley, chairman of the NCGA, was pleased to announce and congratulate the recipients:
Jason Buss – University of Illinois
Lauren Schlosser – University of Missouri – Columbia
James Seitzer – University of Minnesota
Catherine (Catie) Simpson – Colorado State University
Josh Yoder – Ohio State University
Lauren, Jamie and Catie are pictured here with Adam Burnhams of BASF and Ken.
Catie, who is a graduate student at Colorado State University, spoke for the winners during a press conference. “I was extremely flattered and felt honored by the ag community when I heard I won the scholarship. As a graduate student, there aren’t a lot of scholarships that I’m eligible for. A lot of scholarships for grad students are not in ag. They are for areas of study like microbiology. This is near and dear to my heart to be recognized by BASF and NCGA with this scholarship. That’s (ag) where I came from and it makes me feel like I haven’t strayed too far from home.”
Ken says they received 80 applications for the five $1000 scholarships and they expect many more this year when the program continues with BASF’s sponsorship.
New Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer made his first appearance before corn, soybean and wheat growers at Commodity Classic on Friday.
Schafer talked about the farm bill of course and expressed optimism that we’re getting closer to an agreement. We can only hope!
You can listen to Secretary Schafer’s speech here:
USDA released a document (Word doc) “developed from Administration analysis of impacts to current USDA programs - in the absence of enactment of a new farm bill or an extension of the 2002 farm bill past March 15, 2008.”
Registration is underway in Nashville at the Opryland Convention Center for the 2008 Commodity Classic. Some 4000 corn, soybean and wheat growers, industry representatives and partners are expected to attend the event, which just keeps getting bigger.
Today is meeting day for the different commodity groups and time for everyone to get oriented to this small city that is the Opryland. No need to work out here - just the walk from one end to another is exercise enough!
The farm bill - or lack thereof - is the main topic of discussion in the hallways here. And we can expect to hear more about that when Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer speaks on Friday during the general session.
Next year’s logo for Commodity Classic will have four amigos, instead of just three.
Sorghum will join corn, soybeans and wheat for the 2009 Commodity Classic Feb. 26-28 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center on Lake Grapevine in Grapevine, Texas.
“We are very excited to take part in Commodity Classic in 2009,” said National Sorghum Producers President Dale Murden. “We recognize that farmers grow diverse crops and Commodity Classic gives producers the opportunity to network and learn about corn, soybeans, wheat, and now sorghum all at the same time.”
Meanwhile, information about this year’s Classic, coming up next week, is available at www.commodityclassic.com.
“Corn Fed” Shannon will join John Conlee, Joe Diffie, Carolina Rain and The Steeldrivers for an exclusive show at the Grand Ole Opry during the Evening of Entertainment wrapping up the 2008 Commodity Classic convention March 1 in Nashville, Tenn.
“This is a great lineup of talent for our private Evening of Entertainment,” said Commodity Classic co-chair and ASA Vice President Randy Mann.
Commodity Classic is the combined convention and trade show of the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Association of Wheat Growers. It will be held Feb. 28-March 1 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort across from the Grand Ole Opry.
Lauren, Jamie and Catie are pictured here with Adam Burnhams of BASF and Ken. 
New Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer made his first appearance before corn, soybean and wheat growers at Commodity Classic on Friday. 
Registration is underway in Nashville at the Opryland Convention Center for the 2008 Commodity Classic. Some 4000 corn, soybean and wheat growers, industry representatives and partners are expected to attend the event, which just keeps getting bigger.
Next year’s logo for Commodity Classic will have four amigos, instead of just three. 
As Ken commented on the