Farmers invited to Kansas Commodity Classic on February 11

MANHATTAN, Kan. – All Kansas farmers are invited to the Kansas Commodity Classic in Manhattan on February 11, to gain in-depth information on grain markets both local and globally, and national organization updates on Kansas’ key commodities. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt will be the featured keynote speaker.

The Kansas Commodity Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas Corn, Wheat and Grain Sorghum Associations, and will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn, 410 S 3rd St., Manhattan, Kansas, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. It is free to attend and includes a complimentary lunch, but pre-registration is requested.

The Classic will be emceed by 2011 National Farm Broadcaster of the Year Greg Akagi, from WIBW and the Kansas Agriculture Network.

The morning session will open at 9:00 a.m. where Darrell Holaday, of Country Futures in Frankfort, Kansas, will provide an update on commodity markets.

Representatives of national grain organizations will give updates in some of the state’s key commodities such as Chris Novak, CEO, National Corn Growers Association, Tim Lust, CEO, National Sorghum Producers, and Dalton Henry, Director of Policy, U.S. Wheat Associates.

Mike Dwyer, chief economist, U.S. Grains Council, will discuss international trade. Dwyer provides regular reports and analysis of developments in global supply and demand for coarse grains and products as well as develops and maintains information on changing market conditions that will benefit the Council’s overseas contacts.

The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of agribusinesses and producers committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and their products. The Council has 10 international offices that oversee programs in more than 50 countries.

After lunch, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt will be the featured keynote speaker.

Derek Schmidt was elected the 44th attorney general of Kansas in 2010 and was reelected to a second term in 2014. Before being elected attorney general, Schmidt served as a Kansas State Senator representing part of Southeast Kansas, as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and as the Senate Majority Leader.

The Kansas Commodity Classic is hosted by the Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. The event is sponsored by the following industry sponsors: Syngenta, Farmway Coop and Farm Credit Association of Kansas. The event is free to attend, but pre-registration is encouraged by calling 785-539-0255 or visiting our website at kswheat.com/kscommodityclassic.