Farm Horizons • April
3, 2017 • Page 23
Corn and Soybean Growers give voice to local producers
Four FFA members from Glencoe and Hutchinson – Adam Thalmann, Emily Thalmann, Mariah Theuringer, and Ashley Kerkvliet – accepted donation checks for their chapters at the McLeod County Corn & Soybean Growers banquet.
PHOTO BY MARK MITTEN
By Mark Mitten The McLeod County Corn and Soybean Growers is a local organization overseen by 10 board members, giving voice to the corn and soybean producers of McLeod County.
“ We provide a connection to state growers at the local level,” said board member Brian Thalmann. He noted that there are several members on the board who help provide the access to broader statewide programs. Thalmann is the treasurer for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association; Bob Lindeman represents McLeod County as a board member of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association; and Karen Johnson is the new Extension educator for both McLeod and Meeker counties.
Part of the mission of the McLeod County Corn and Soybean Growers is to promote the many corn and soybean-based products: biofuels and bioethanol blends, as well as industrial, food, drug and cosmetic products. In addition to promotion, the Corn and Soybean Growers take a hands-on approach to community support.
“ We wanted to give back to youth in the area,” Thalmann explained.“ We started a program to give out up to four $ 500 scholarships for agriscience, food technology, marketing, and other career possibilities.” The organization also awards scholarships to the local chapters of the Future Farmers of America( FFA), support the local 4H program, and donate to other programs— like the Crow River Organization of Water( CROW), which helps keep the Crow River watershed clean with its annual river cleanup day.
“ We also help sponsor University of Minnesota management seminars in the county,” Thalmann added.“ Like the Farmer Fatigue Program, which takes care packages to local farmers.” Every year, the McLeod County Corn and Soybean
Growers celebrate with the farming community by continued on page 26