February Stand Up with Stan

By: Stan Nelson

Stan Nelson is a farmer from Middletown, Iowa, and currently serves as the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) President.

As a corn farmer, I understand the importance of reaching customers not only in Iowa but also around the world. That’s why I am proud of Iowa Corn’s investment in the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), which works specifically to develop markets globally for corn and corn products.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the USGC 21st International Marketing Conference and 64th Annual Membership Meeting in Guatemala. During the conference, I gained valuable insights into the strategic marketing plan for 2024 and participated in panels discussing Guatemala’s feed grain and ethanol markets. It was inspiring to witness the dedication of industry leaders like Doug McKalip, Chief Agricultural Negotiator from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala Patrick Ventrell, who are actively advocating for our interests as corn farmers.

As a farmer, I am proud of the investment of the corn checkoff to represent my farm and my products. Through the work of USGC, I can rest assured that someone is consistently representing my interests on the global stage to enable trade and build demand for my corn. USGC’s efforts ensure that established markets remain open, new markets are explored, and robust trade is maintained for the commodities we grow. My role as a farmer is to grow a sustainable, bountiful crop and invest in the marketing, research and education that happens with the corn checkoff beyond my farm-gate.

If you would like to learn more about how your corn checkoff dollars are invested with the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, I encourage you to visit iowacorn.org.

Thank you,

Stan Nelson