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