Three Kansas Corn leaders have returned from National Corn Growers Association committee meetings in St. Louis, MO, where they discussed issues and opportunities that will impact corn farmers across the country.

In September, Ken McCauley, White Cloud; Bob Timmons, Fredonia; and Dennis McNinch, Utica were selected to serve the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) action teams. The corn leaders will serve a one-year term working with fellow growers from across the country on committees ranging from production and stewardship, research and business development, public policy, grower services, ethanol committee, trade policy, biotechnology and the national political action committee.

The NCGA teams heard presentations from industry and government leaders, explored possible changes regarding team policies and activities and participated in discussions that will help NCGA form a new strategic plan to govern the association's future policies.

Dennis McNinch is a first-year appointee to the ethanol action team and says he was impressed by his first experience. His committee held discussions on protecting the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and how to make E-15 fuel more attainable.

"Our committee discussion was cohesive as a whole," McNinch says. "I look forward to the next meeting and will do my homework to be sure I can be a solid contributor for myself, the state of Kansas and corn growers in general."

McCauley serves as president of CornPac and says the action team worked to organize the Commodity Classic, an national event set for January 2013. He says the group also discussed the slate of new Congressional leaders in Washington and considered ways to work with and educate folks in D.C. on corn issues. McCauley is a past president of NCGA.

Bob Timmons, Fredonia, is beginning his third year on the research and business development action team.

"NCGA is a grassroots organization and efforts like this are how we ensure our national organization is being driven by farmers," Timmons said. "It's important to have the Kansas perspective in these meetings."

The NCGA action teams define, implement and measure program actions in their areas of expertise - trade policy and biotechnology, ethanol, public policy, production and stewardship, research and business development and grower services. Their discussions and suggestions will be forwarded to the national Corn Board for consideration.