Leadership in the National Corn Growers Association is a feather in any farmer's cap and a Hurley, S.D., farmer will be able to claim than honor starting October 1. Darrin Ihnen has been elected to the first vice president position beginning in the 2009 fiscal year.

In an announcement of his new position, Ihnen says that the "months and years ahead are offering us many challenges, and we have a great team in place to not only meet these challenges but to continue expanding opportunities for our members."

Ihnen and his family operate a farm growing irrigated and dryland corn and soybeans. They also raise stock cows and manage a contract hog feeding operation. He has been involved in corn grower issues at local, state and national levels participating in NCGA's Leadership Academy, South Dakota Corn Growers Association and NCGA's Biotechnology Working Group and Production and Stewardship Action Team. He's also a board member of POET Biorefining in Chancellor, S.D.

"Darrin has been a very active and respected grower-leader at the local, state and national level," said Ron Litterer, NCGA president. "We're proud he will be moving forward into a new leadership role with NCGA and are looking forward to making the most of his experience and insight."

In October, Litterer, a Greene, Iowa, farmer, will become chairman of the Corn Board and Bob Dickey of Laurel, Neb., currently serving as first vice president, will become board president. Officers are traditionally rotated through the three positions each fiscal year.

The 15-member NCGA Corn Board executes the organization's policy and strategic vision, as set forth by the Corn Congress, the semiannual meeting of affiliated state organizations. It also bears ultimate responsibility for NCGA's financial affairs. Ihnen's election needs to be ratified by the Corn Congress at its July 16 meeting in Washington, D.C.