With this season's corn harvest coming to a close, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) and the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) are kicking off a new fiscal year with new leadership and a new board member. The election of the 2012-13 MCMC officer team took place during the August board meeting held in St. Charles, Mo. The following MCMC leaders assumed their new roles Oct. 1:

Chairman: Jim Stuever, Dexter, Mo.

Vice Chairman: Morris Heitman, Mound City, Mo.

Secretary: Mike Moreland, Harrisonville, Mo.

Treasurer: Gary Porter, Mercer, Mo.

Also elected in August, the 2012-13 MCGA officers are:

President: Rob Korff, Norborne, Mo.

Vice President: Kevin Hurst, Tarkio, Mo.

Jim Stuever of Dexter, Mo., was recently elected chairman of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council. Photo Credit: Missouri Corn Merchandising Council

Secretary/Treasurer: Kyle Kirby, Liberal, Mo.

New MCMC board member Scott Hays of Monroe City, Mo., was recently elected by growers in District 3 and assumed his new role Oct. 1. He will be nominated to the MCGA board at the organization's annual meeting in February. Hays fills the seat previously held by Mark Goldinger of Hannibal, Mo.

Rob Korff of Norborne, Mo., was recently elected president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association. Photo Credit: Missouri Corn Merchandising Council

Several Missouri Corn grower-leaders have been appointed to serve on National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) action teams and committees.  Kevin Hurst has been reappointed to the Ethanol and NASCAR Committees; Billy Thiel of Marshall, Mo., will again serve on the Corn PAC; Jim Stuever was renamed to the Trade and Biotechnology Action Team; Kyle Kirby was appointed to the Production and Stewardship Action Team; Morris Heitman will rejoin the Public Policy Action Team; Mark Scott of Wentzville, Mo., will return to the Grower Services Action Team; Jay Schutte of Benton City, Mo., was named to the Research and Business Development Action Team; and Mark White, Missouri Corn senior vice president of research, will serve on the Production and Stewardship Action Team and Mycotoxin Task Force.  Additionally, Mike Geske of Matthews, Mo., is currently a director on the National Corn Board and will serve as the liaison to the National Pork Producers Council and U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.  He will continue his work with the Missouri Corn board as an ex-officio member.

MCMC is also a longstanding partner with the U.S. Grains Council in working to enhance commodity values through strong international exports.  Representing Missouri corn farmers on the U.S. Grains Council are: Gary Porter, Rest of the World Programs; Morris Heitman, Value-Added; Missouri Corn Vice President of Operations and Grower Services Gary Wheeler, Asia Programs; and Jim Stuever, who will serve as chairman of the Biotechnology Advisory Team.

Source: Missouri Corn Growers