Jay Schutte, of Benton City, steps into the role of Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) chairman effective Oct. 1. Elected during the organization’s August board meeting, Schutte succeeded Greg Schneider of Warrenton.

Schutte previously served the state’s growers as MCMC vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer as well as Missouri Corn Growers Association secretary/treasurer. Schutte has also represented corn farmers nationally, previously serving on the National Corn Growers Association’s Risk Management and Transportation Action Team and chairman of the Ethanol Action Team, as well as the Asia Advisory Team with the U.S. Grains Council.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is domestic markets, exports, livestock, or ethanol; market development must be our main focus in the coming year,” notes Schutte. “Today’s farmers have become the ultimate producers, and as corn prices reflect, the pile of corn is growing. As an industry, our job moving forward is to grow existing markets for our grain and find new ones.”

“We’ve had a deep bench, a long list of predecessors that have paved the way to make this job easier,” continued Schutte. “Each year has unique challenges, and I know Greg and other past leaders will be there to mentor us as we move forward. We also have some rising starts to help fill the voids, and I’m confident we’ll continue making strides on behalf of corn growers across the state.”

The MCMC board of directors is comprised of 14 farmers elected from across the state. This volunteer board was formed in 1984 with the passage of a corn checkoff and is committed to market development, research, and education. To learn more about the corn industry in Missouri, visit www.mocorn.org.

Other MCMC leaders who assumed their new roles Oct. 1 were: Brent Hoerr, Palmyra, vice chairman; Dylan Rosier, Mound City, secretary; Matt Lambert, Laclede, treasurer.

New MCMC board members Adam Casner of Carrollton,Greg Bertz of Mayview, and Danny Kuenzel of Washington, were recently elected by growers in Districts 2, 4, and 6 respectively and assumed their new roles Oct. 1. They will be nominated to the MCGA board at the organization’s annual meeting in January. Casner replaces Gary Porter of Mercer, Mo.; Bertz succeeds Kyle Kirby of Liberal; and Kuenzel replaces Greg Schneider of Warrenton. Porter, who served the maximum 12 years, will remain on the MCMC and MCGA boards in an ex-officio capacity through his service on the National Corn Growers Association board of directors.