GRAIN MARKETING
A GOOD I
MARKETER
By Emmy Williams & Mark Welch
El Campo, Texas, was home to the 26th Master
Marketer Program in September and October of
2013. The 2013 program began on September 17
and its 34 attendees graduated on October 31.
Graduates primarily held interests in banking, corn,
cotton, grain sorghum, rice and stocker cattle. Since
the program’s inception in 1996, the total number
of Master Marketer Graduates has reached 1,085.
These past participants have reported a yearly
impact averaging $35,000 using the knowledge and
tools gained from the Master Marketer Program.
The program consisted of a one-day optional
session and four two-day sessions. To the right
are statements written by this year’s graduates.
T
opics covered included market basics, legal issues, technical analysis, crop insurance strategies, weather, grain
fundamentals, cotton fundamentals, financial management, livestock fundamentals, and marketing plans and
discipline. The subject matter was taught with a combination of teaching techniques including lecture, problem solving,
small group work, simulation exercises and game playing using the
best instructors available on the basis of their expertise and communication skills.
14
I WISH THIS WAS E
EXP OSED TO ME &
BAC K IN 1982 O
WHEN I GREW MY I
F I R S T C R O P, T
I
GREAT PROGRAM.
OVERALL, IT WA
GREAT TRAININ
PRODUCTION
MORE THAN
IT’S TIME WE ENGAGE
GIVES YOU THE C
This year’s class reported farming a combined 22,000 acres of
cotton; 15,000 acres of sorghum; 9,000 acres of corn; 6,000 acres
of rice; 2,000 acres of wheat and 2,000 head of cattle on farm and
ranch land in Wharton, Jackson, Nueces, Washington, Bee, Brazoria, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Hill, Karnes, Lubbock, San Patricio and Victoria counties. The average age of the Master Marketer
participants was 40, with the class equally split between agricultural
producers and those involved in other types of agribusiness. Pre and
post tests were given to assess the level of knowledge gained. Gradu-