The recipients for the Agribusiness Leader and NAMA Marketer of the Year awards were honored during the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference.

Agribusiness Leader of the Year
Rick Tolman, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association, was presented with the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award, NAMA’s highest honor, at the Opening General Session of the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City on April 17.

This award honors an outstanding leader in agribusiness, education, government service or other related areas.

Tolman has been a driving force in solidifying the demand for corn. The growing ethanol market is a real win for corn farmers and rural America. Today, ethanol has become a symbol of corn grower success. And it is the efforts surrounding the many successes of corn producers in 2007 that distinguish Rick among his peers. Acting Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Conner, had characterized the results of Congress in 2007 as fairly lackluster – except in agriculture. The energy bill, Water Resources Development Act, free trade agreements and developing the farm bill are examples of legislation Congress passed and paid attention to in 2007. And NCGA helped lead the charge for all of them–benefiting corn growers and all of agriculture.

With foresight and planning, Rick led the NCGA Corn Board in its strategic plan in mid-2006 to call for production of 15 billion bushels of corn, of which 5 billion bushels can be used for the production of 15 billion gallons of ethanol by 2015. This blueprint was instrumental in the historic energy legislation signed by President George W. Bush in December 2007. The bill specifically calls for 15 billion gallons of ethanol from corn. Rick’s planning extends to NCGA action teams and committees, which are charged with implementing and executing the priorities of NCGA member states. Each team and committee creates three-year business plans to help chart the course for the current year and two years ahead. These plans have been instrumental in NCGA’s many accomplishments.

NAMA Marketer of the Year
Dave Rhylander, Marketing Lead for Delta & Pine Land – a new division of Monsanto, was presented with the NAMA Marketer of the Year Award during the Second General Session at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference on April 17 in Kansas City.

This award is the most prestigious honor awarded to an active member of the association and honors outstanding accomplishments in the field of agri-marketing. Nominees are solicited from agribusiness and related companies with overall marketing and/or sales responsibilities.

A 32-year veteran of Monsanto, Dave Rhylander is recognized as a visionary leader and highly innovative marketer not only within the ranks of his own company but also throughout the agribusiness industry. As U.S. Director of Traits Marketing for Monsanto, his creativity, sales and marketing skills have played a major role in driving the adoption of new trait technologies that have had a significant, positive impact on American farmers. Through aggressive marketing communication campaigns, grower on-farm trials and strategic pricing programs, Monsanto continues to be the trait leader within the industry. Dave has moved on to the Marketing Lead for Delta and Pine Land which is a new business unit of Monsanto.

In annual grower surveys, YieldGard and Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology has consistently received satisfaction ratings by more than 90 percent of those surveyed. “This shows we are not only getting broad farmer trial, but we are also meeting their established expectation at a much higher level than alternative trait providers,” explains Jim Zimmer, Vice President of U.S. Branded Business for Monsanto. “This is due to Dave’s leadership in always educating farmers on the real benefits Monsanto traits deliver.” Zimmer adds, “Dave Rhylander leads by example. He has a tremendous sense of urgency to put new products in the marketplace to help farmers.”