Four Questions for NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr.

It's October, and at the National Corn Growers Association that means we're starting a new fiscal year, and we have a new grower at the top of the organization. This month, Kenneth Hartman Jr. began his term as NCGA president. I decided to ask four key questions of Kenneth that I thought would help you and other growers get to know our new leader.

Brooke. Thank you, Kenneth, for agreeing to do this interview. I know it's been a whirlwind week for you. Let's start by having you tell us a little about yourself and where you're from.

Kenneth: I am a fifth-generation farmer from Waterloo, Ill., a town 25-miles south of St. Louis. I operate a corn and soybean farm along with my wife Anita, mother Joann and daughter Amanda. Along with farming, I have been deeply engaged in advocacy on behalf of growers. I have served on the NCGA board for six years in a variety of leadership roles and as a past president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and past chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. I am also a member of the Illinois Leadership Council for Ag Education.

Brooke: Your theme is building bridges. Tell me more about how you developed that theme.

Kenneth: My great-great grandfather who moved to Waterloo from Germany was a stonemason. He built a bridge in 1870 that is still standing near my farmhouse. To me it is symbolic of how we should approach advocacy. We need to build on our ties with existing allies while cultivating new relationships with other organizations inside and outside agriculture. We also need to continue to reach out to policymakers and other leaders who may not represent rural communities but who benefit indirectly from the work of farmers. I strongly believe that coalition building is one of the most effective ways to get things done.

Brooke: Tell us about some of the issues you hope to tackle as president.

Kenneth: Corn growers are facing tough economic times. Commodity prices have dropped, and input costs remain high. Against this backdrop, we are still making a strong push for Congress to pass a robust farm bill by the end of the year. A five-year farm bill with improvements can provide producers with much-needed certainty during uncertain times. I also want the current and next administration to work on developing new markets abroad and address tariffs that are being placed on ag supplies and passed on to farmers. Additionally, I want to push Congress and the current and next presidential administrations to extend consumer access to higher blends of ethanol. That means making it easier for growers to access the sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, passing legislation that expands access to E15 year-round and passing the Next Generation Fuels Act. These initiatives would greatly expand the ethanol market while helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Brooke: You recently spoke to Biden administration officials during the "Farmers and Ranchers in Action" event at the White House. Tell us more about the issues you raised.

Kenneth: During a recent White House visit, I told administration officials that farmers are living through difficult economic times but the administration and Congress can help by removing barriers so growers can access expanding markets for U.S. corn. I spoke about the need for producers to be able to access tax credits for sustainable aviation fuels. That is within the administration's control, and it's something that would help farmers expand their market reach while allowing the airline industry to meet Pres. Biden's ambitious climate goals.

Brooke: Thank you so much, Kenneth. You have already hit the ground running, and I look forward to working with you throughout the year to accomplish these goals.

Kenneth: Thank you, Brooke. The Corn Board and I look forward to working with you, NCGA staff, Action Teams and affiliated state associations to build long-lasting bridges for corn growers!

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