NGFA Announces Speaker Lineup for 127th Annual Convention
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
The NGFA's lineup of speakers for its 127th Annual Convention includes AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies (left) and STB Board Member Michelle Schultz (right).
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) on March 2 announced its 127th Annual Convention lineup of speakers, including Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Ian Jefferies and Surface Transportation Board (STB) Board Member Michelle Schultz, who will address upcoming opportunities for grain, feed, processing and export markets at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, Calif., on March 21-23.
Confirmed general session speakers and presentations include:
- “How Consumer Preferences on Sustainability and Diversity are Shaping Your Business” with Erin Condon, Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Culture at CGB Enterprises; Megan Rock, Chief Sustainability Officer at CHS Inc., and Steve Wittbecker, Chief Sustainability Officer at CoBank (March 22 Opening General Session)
- “NGFA Chairman’s Address” featuring Greg Beck, Senior Vice President, Grain, CGB Enterprises, Inc. (March 22 Opening General Session)
- “Industry Keynote Address” featuring Donnie Smith, Chairman and CEO of Foster Farms (March 23 Closing General Session)
- “A Conversation with the CFTC Chairman” with Rostin Behnam, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (March 23 Closing General Session)
- “2022 Mid-Term Election Analysis” with David Wasserman, Senior Election Analyst at The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and NBC Contributor (March 23 Closing General Session)
The convention also includes a Transportation and Technology Open Forum on March 21 featuring leaders in rail and waterways (in order of appearance):
- “Expectations for the US Freight Rail System in 2023” with Ian Jefferies, President and CEO of AAR
- “STB Update” with Michelle Schultz, Board member of the STB
- “The State of our Navigation Infrastructure” with Thomas Heinold, Operations Division Chief at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the Rock Island District
Bottom Row (left to right): Donnie Smith, Chairman and CEO, Foster Farms; Michelle Schultz, Board Member, Surface Transportation Board; David Wasserman, Senior Election Analyst, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and NBC Contributor; and Steve Wittbecker, Chief Sustainability Officer, CoBank
Additional speakers will be announced prior to the event.
“This year’s convention includes a stellar lineup of agribusiness leaders and federal regulatory officials to address and meet with NGFA members,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert. “They will provide insightful and timely perspectives on emerging issues for the agricultural value chain, including important transportation investments, risk management assessments, consumer behavior and political outlooks. We are expecting an exceptional turnout for the convention this year and I look forward to meeting new and familiar faces in La Quinta. We also look forward to welcoming the new class of the NGFA Committee Apprentice Program (CAP) and our National Grain and Feed Foundation scholarship winners from the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) student society.”
The convention schedule, including information on NGFA business meetings, the golf tournament to benefit the National Grain and Feed Foundation and networking events, is available here.
