FMC’s Mike Seyfert served up a sizzling inside look at Washington politics at a recent Chesapeake NAMA chapter lunch ‘n learn held at the stunning new state-of-the-art FMC building in Philadelphia. A few pictures of the group and the view from the conference room can be seen here.

As Dir. of Government Affairs for FMC Agricultural Solutions, Seyfert coordinates the company’s government activities, pursuing strategies with officials and numerous non-crop, agribusiness and agriculture producer-based organizations. A 16-year veteran of Capitol Hill, Seyfert was intricately involved with negotiations and activities surrounding the development of one of the most comprehensive Farm Bill proposals in history.

With the election just two weeks away, Seyfert’s insights captivated the audience, which included Delaware Valley University assistant professor John Urbanchuk and three of his students. As NAMA student advisor for the chapter, Urbanchuk provided an overview of activities and invited the group to critique the student campaign before the national NAMA competition in April.

Debbie Brummel, manager of chapter activities for National NAMA in Kansas City, traveled to Philadelphia for the meeting. Other attendees included chapter president Kathy Johnson, treasurer Sonia Wasco and program coordinator Debbie Clayton, as well as seven FMC marketing professionals.

Members of the Cornhusker Chapter of NAMA ventured to Shenandoah, Iowa, on Oct. 27 for a tour of the first of 17 ethanol processing plants owned and operated by Green Plains. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Green Plains is a vertically integrated ethanol producer with current ethanol production capacity of approximately 1.5 billion gallons per year from plants strategically located across the U.S. The Shenandoah plant alone takes in more than 70,000 bushels and processes approximately 210,000 gallons of ethanol daily.

During the tour, Cornhusker NAMA members learned about the science of ethanol production, including several important co-products of the process including distillers grains and corn oil. At capacity, Green Plains ethanol plants will produce approximately 4.1 million tons of distillers grains annually that will be used as a high-protein, high-energy animal fodder and feed supplement. Corn oil is also a co-product of ethanol production that is sold to biodiesel manufacturers and to feed lot and poultry markets.

“We had all driven by ethanol production facilities before but few of us had actually toured a plant,” says Randy Happel, Cornhusker Chapter president-elect. “The processing science is fascinating. We were also impressed to learn more about the important co-products derived from the process. The facility is fully automated and we were impressed with the efficiency and operational technology. We left with a great appreciation for the important role ethanol production plays in the U.S. ag economy, especially for corn growers.”

Looking ahead to next generation technology, Green Plains formed a joint venture to commercialize algae production technology called BioProcess Algae. Using Green Plains advanced Grower Harvester™ technology, BioProcess Algae is currently producing algae with its commercial scale bioreactors. The algae grown and harvested from these reactors have the potential to be used for advanced biofuel production, high quality animal feed, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals and as biomass for energy production.

Cornhusker NAMA members journeyed to neighboring Iowa for an informative guided tour of the Green Plains ethanol production facility. Located in Shenandoah, Iowa, and the first of 17 Green Plains facilities located throughout the country, the plant takes in more than 70,000 bu. of corn daily; producing upwards of 210,000 gallons of ethanol.

An important co-product of the ethanol production process at the Green Plains facility in Shenandoah, Iowa, is distillers grains. The spent grain mash is used as high-protein high-energy animal fodder and feed supplements marketed to the dairy, beef, swine and poultry industries.

The Midsouth chapter is committed to supporting the student chapters, as well as supporting ongoing education of members in the field of Agriculture and Marketing.  Where could they do all of this at once?  A trip to Mississippi State University!  The Department of Agricultural Economics hosted the group of 10 members on Thursday, October 20^th.  They had a campus tour, highlighted by a trip to the Rose Garden.  Back on campus the chapter was joined by department staff and students for a department overview from Dr. Keith Coble.  They were able to learn about the faculty and all of the interesting projects they are working on.  Over lunch members mingled with the student NAMA members, who were clearly an impressive bunch!  Following lunch, they concluded the afternoon with a presentation from the MS State Athletics Marketing Team.  The group was able to learn what goes into their award winning work.  As marketing professionals, their methods were inspiring and impressive.  Hail State!

The trip was very beneficial to Midsouth’s relationship with the student chapter.  They got to see the students in their own environment and were able to get to know them beyond the once-a-year presentation.  It energized the members as well to realize how helpful they can be in their process.  They also learned a lot about an important institution in the Ag industry, and how many important things that they do to contribute to its success.

Next year, the chapter hopes to visit UT Martin as well.

Special thanks to Darrah Pierce, Brad Allen, Stacey Swain and Margaret Oldham for helping to plan the event!

The MoKan Chapter of NAMA took a tour last month of Tom’s Town, a Kansas City distillery that produces vodka, gin, and whiskey. But what it really produced was a refreshingly good time for local NAMA colleagues, including members of the University of Missouri Student NAMA chapter.

Acting as the chapter’s Fall Kickoff event, attendees learned how Tom’s Town got its inspiration from the country’s most polarizing and corrupt political boss, Tom Pendergast. Known as King Tom, Pendergast’s irreverence for federal statutes in favor of bare-knuckled local capitalism allowed Kansas City to emerge as the Paris of the Plains. Spirits were certainly raised this night, in more ways than one.

Violet M. (White) Parsons, 95, passed away Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.  She resided in Overland Park, Kansas for 38 years.  Violet worked with husband Rex, Executive Director of the National Agri-Marketing Association, to develop a member directory and registration system for annual conferences until 1991.

In lieu of flowers a memorial in Violet’s name may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society.  A Memorial Service will be held 2:00 pm, Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS 66215.