For the next year, a Minnesota Corn grower-leader will lead the board of directors of a national grain-export organization.

Chad Willis, who farms near Willmar with his wife, Krista, is the new chairman of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) board. He was elected today at USGC’s annual Board of Delegates meeting in Des Moines, Iowa.

A member of the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council (MCR&PC) since 2007, Willis has been on the USGC board since 2017, where he has helped direct strategies to develop new trade markets.

He previously was the board’s vice president and secretary-treasurer.

As a USGC board member, Willis’ priorities have included growing export partners, maintaining healthy relationships with current trade partners and growing markets for ethanol-related operations.

In his incoming remarks, Willis said he was drawn to USGC because he needs dependable markets to sustain his farming operation. “But as I’ve served the Council and as I’ve been able to see firsthand by traveling to other countries, it’s a two-way street. To be successful, we need each other,” he said.

He also said value-added markets for ethanol and distillers dried grains with solubles must continue to be built.

“The value of global trade has so much potential if we work together to access them,” he said.

MCR&PC and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) have long supported USGC and its mission to develop markets for U.S. producers.

As a USGC member, Minnesota Corn receives access to strategic market information and intelligence from international offices, partnerships in foreign marketplaces and more, all of which helps increase grain exports.

To learn more about USGC and its work, visit grains.org.