July 9: Corn farmers from across the country will gather in Washington the week of July 12 for a series of team and committee meetings, Capitol Hill visits with lawmakers and the semi-annual Corn Congress, where grower-leaders from 28 states will elect four new members of the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board.

Click here for an audio preview from NCGA President Darrin Ihnen.

“Coming to Washington is always an exciting time,” Ihnen said. “There’s no better place to be when we come to develop policy and talk about the issues and the legislation that affect corn growers back on the farm.”

The week starts with action team and committee meetings Monday and Tuesday. NCGA’s action teams and committees are small groups of growers who are charged with defining and implementing programs under their jurisdiction to further the mission of NCGA in creating and increasing opportunities for corn growers.

On Wednesday morning, the Corn Congress holds its first session with the ratification of Garry Niemeyer of Illinois as first vice president for the 2011 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The Congress will also elect four new board members for 2011 and two Congressional guests are expected to address the audience, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson. Time is set aside on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning for Capitol Hill visits to senators, representatives and key staff.

“It’s great to be able to get in and spend time with the lawmakers and their staff so they can hear our voices and see how important these issues are to us,” Ihnen said. “They always want to hear from the farmers personally and directly.”

Corn Congress reconvenes after lunch Thursday with reports from the chairs of the action teams and committees, a presentation from the chairman of the U.S. Grains Council, and farewell remarks from outgoing board members Bob Dickey (Neb.), Theresa Schmalshof (Ill.), Jamie Jamison (Md.) and Mark Schwiebert (Ohio).