IL CORN FARMER ELECTED TO U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL BOARD

Tricia Braid

Jul 30, 2015  |  Today's News

 

Illinois corn farmer Jim Raben (Ridgway) has been elected as an at-large director of the U.S. Grains Council by a vote of his peers. Jim currently serves as your Illinois Corn Marketing Board vice-chairman. Your Illinois corn checkoff dollars are partnered and leveraged by USGC to expand export markets for corn, ethanol, and DDGS. This is especially important to Illinois as we export more corn than any other corn producing state.

In his presentation to the USGC delegates, Jim stated:

“Spending time in Brazil is really what led me to an investigation of world markets and an interest in global opportunities. I’ve since invested time on the NCGA Biotech and Trade Action Team and the USGC Asia Team. I’ve served on the Illinois Corn Marketing Board since 2010, currently as Vice Chairman. I also have leadership experience at the local level where I have served on my local school board as President, my county Farm Bureau board as Vice President, as well as church committees and other local groups.

But I believe leadership is more about character than resumes. I feel joy when my grandchildren join me in the field. They are excited about agriculture, and they may want to be a part of the family legacy in the future and farm with me and their parents.  I want to make decisions for them now that will make their lives in agriculture better. My dad always told me, “When you leave this earth, the farm should be in better shape than when you bought it.” That’s advice that I extend not just to my own piece of dirt but to the effort and time I put into building the ag economy for my kids and yours. I feel an obligation to do what I can to guarantee a strong ag economy so that when my grandkids want to return to the farm, it’s a stable place for them and a secure way to earn a living.”