[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to Missouri Corn Talk, your go to weekly agriculture podcast delivering fast, reliable updates on market development efforts, ethanol demand, and the issues shaping today's corn industry. I'm your host, David Geiger. The Missouri Corn Growers association membership is more than a number. It's about making sure corn growers have a voice when decisions are being made in Jefferson City, Washington, and around the world. Joining us today is Missouri Corn Director of Grower Engagement, Katie Marshall. We will talk about another successful golf season, the upcoming Missouri State Fair, and, and two more opportunities for members to get involved before the year is over. Katie, thank you so much for joining us. And let's start off with this year's membership events over the summer. How did things go?
[00:00:40] Speaker B: Very well, you know, besides a little hot, but to be expected during our summer months. But our golf tournaments were very successful. It's always a great opportunity to be able to connect with our growers. Our agribusinesses just have very informal conversations. We might be out there playing golf, but at the end of the day, that's where we get a lot of feedback and just open, honest conversations about the industry in general. So we were able to raise 30,000 more, a little more than $30,000 this summer for our political action committee, which is awesome. And had a little over 650 players throughout the summer. So there's really no other event that we have where we can really just have those conversations in a very casual environment. So very successful.
[00:01:28] Speaker A: Congratulations. That sounds like a big success.
But when you speak about some of these summer membership events, there is more than just the golf side of things.
Folks have this opportunity to take a break from the farm and connect, as you were saying that, that time together.
Tell me about the conversations that were going on and how some of those relationships seem to move around this year in particular with some of the major events that have been going on.
[00:01:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, I think fertilizer input costs, some of the federal farm bill policies, all of those are. And trade, that's another thing that those are just, those are hot topics that you hear on the news or you. You get in media. And so our growers and our agribusiness, they want to talk about those things. And while they may not be getting daily updates about it, they're hearing about it. And so it gives a space, staff, and our board opportunities to kind of lay out those issues and, and where we're at and how they can help be more involved in those. And so I think everyone's always a little nervous about their bottom line as they should be. It's part of the reason we're here is to help that. And so those events, specifically the summer, but also as we go into the fall and then into the winter, those are what we pride those events on, is that whether it's a meeting or a casual atmosphere, we're able to talk about these hot button issues that they're just hearing a little snippet about that we can then go on and have a further conversation on.
[00:02:54] Speaker A: A part of this is Missouri corn has this great strength of community, especially when growers are involved. So when you talk about all those issues you just mentioned, the engagement side is very valuable, especially when it allows people to feel like the issues they're dealing with are being talked about and confronted at different stages and different levels of government, whether state or national. Can you tell me about how growers don't necessarily have to be policy experts, but they do have this chance to give their voice of what's impacting their lives.
[00:03:33] Speaker B: Yeah, so they're busy, they're growing the crop and they've got a lot going on with their families and they're things back on the farm. And so we recognize that they can't be in Jefferson City every week. They can't be in Washington D.C. all the time. And so that's one of the strengths that we have. And that's why it's important to be involved on a membership level. Because we're here and we always say there's a seat at the table because we know that they can't always be at the table, but that's what we're here for. And so whether it is attending an event or whether it's just calling us while it's maybe visiting with a board member, we are always trying to keep in the back of our mind what's best for our growers. And so hearing from them at different events is that conduit for us, is that ability to be able to speak on their behalf when we are in Jefferson City or when we are in Washington D.C. so we recognize that growers are busy and they don't have a lot of time extra besides just farming and doing all that. It takes 12 months out of the year. And so for us, that's why we're here. And there's ways to stay involved that does fit different lifestyles and schedules.
[00:04:43] Speaker A: I'm glad you brought that up because you don't necessarily have to be in an event every week, but you can engage in what you're able to. Can you tell me about some of the events that are on the way or that you all are looking forward to coming up, that someone without a lot of time could drop by and talk to you, talk to the folks that are involved and participate in the community.
[00:05:06] Speaker B: So first that comes to mind is our State Fair. So I know the Missouri State Fair is a great showcase of agriculture as well as many other things. And I encourage everyone, if you have never been to the State Fair, take a day and come visit the Missouri State Fair. It truly is something very unique that we have in Sedalia. So we will be there. And we are in the agriculture building, which is air conditioned. So if you need a break from the heat, just come in and visit us. But we'll have a booth, we have board members, we have staff that are there every day. And it's just an opportunity to connect with families. And a lot of times the people that we're seeing, they may not have a huge involvement with agriculture, but they want to know more. And so we're able to interact about simple facts that may be simple to us, but they may not be to the general public and also just answer some questions. We also get the opportunity to talk with policymakers that that come to the State Fair throughout the duration. And so having some of those policy conversations in our booth that takes place. So welcome you to the Missouri State Fair and while you're there, please come and see us in ag building.
Another event that is a little more formal, but not formal really in a sense of it's more just you'll get a meal and you'll get an opportunity for question and answer is as the year would roll around, we'll start doing winter meetings and we host those in all at different areas of the state.
And we love that we actually have meeting styles that we get to hear from growers in specific areas. Because all around the state people are sometimes dealing with different issues. And so we go and meet them where they're at. This fall we will be in areas serving lunch for those truck drivers or those farmers that are harvesting. We do harvest lunches and invite people to come out to where we're at, pick up a lunch and take it back to the the field. But again, just touch points. We just always feel that we can never be with our growers enough. And because they're busy, as we stated earlier, going to them and being where they're at allows us to have the best conversations and hear the most from them.
[00:07:12] Speaker A: I've also heard of some clay shoots coming up especially might be interesting for folks who missed the golf side of things. Can you tell me about those events?
[00:07:21] Speaker B: Yeah, I appreciate you mentioning that as well. So end of August, beginning of September, we host a couple clay shoots. One is in Bogart, Missouri, and the other is in Old Monroe on the eastern half of the state. And again, just another membership event that's casual, that we have great participation in those. And so we welcome you to look on the website for those dates. But yeah, that kind of wraps up our membership summer events with our two clay shoots.
[00:07:50] Speaker A: Katie, every grower does have a story. They have their voice and they have their own perspectives that shape how they approach farming and also how policy and various ongoings around the state and country affect them. Can you tell me about how that story and how sharing that story can help Missouri corn growers get the information and tools they need to continue to support the growers around the state?
[00:08:16] Speaker B: We know that while we're staff and while we work on behalf of our farmers and growers across the state, at the end of the day, the grower has the best story. They're the ones that are deeply impacted. They're the ones that their input costs affect the food that's going on their table and how they're supporting their family and their livelihood. And so that story goes a lot further than us trying to tell it for them. And so anytime our growers can be face to face with policymakers or just come to us and be able to share that story with us, it truly does have an incredibly powerful impact. We know when we've gone to Jefferson City and we've taken growers with us how much of a difference it means hearing it from those growers themselves instead of just us. And while we have the tools to equip our growers and those situations, they're the best at what they do. And so if we can just help them to spread that message and to tell that story any way we can, we most certainly will. But at the end of the day, our growers and their telling of their own story certainly goes much further than us trying to tell the story for them.
[00:09:28] Speaker A: So what is the best way to get a hold of you all and learn more about these events?
[00:09:32] Speaker B: If you have any questions, feel free to call our office anytime. But you can also find information about all of our upcoming events on our
[email protected] so I encourage you to check those out and hopefully we might see you at the state fair this year.
[00:09:45] Speaker A: Katie Marshall is the Director of Grower Engagement with Missouri Corn Growers. Thank you so much Katie for joining us today.
[00:09:53] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:09:54] Speaker A: Whether it is a golf tournament, a clay shoot, a visit to the state fair, or a trip to the Capitol, MCGA is creating opportunities for growers to connect, learn and have a voice in the issues affecting their farm. And that's really what membership's all about, showing up, staying connected, and making sure the voice of Missouri Corn farmers is heard. To learn more about the upcoming Missouri Corn events and how you can get involved, visit mocorn.org thanks for listening to this week's Missouri Corn Talk, made possible by the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the Missouri Corn Growers Association. I'm David Geiger.
