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| Corn Board members Scott Wall, left, and Garry Niemeyer, right, auctioned items at last year’s Commodity Classic CornPAC auction. |
Growers Invited to Attend NCGA CornPAC Auction at Commodity Classic
(02-01-05)
Farmers interested in
advancing the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) legislative
priorities are invited to attend the association’s Corn Political
Action Committee (CornPAC) auction, Feb. 23 at Commodity Classic
in Austin, Texas.
The annual event serves
as a fundraiser for the CornPAC, a grower-led group that contributes
to the campaigns of federal candidates and incumbents who support
the legislative priorities of corn growers. The CornPAC promotes
the interests of corn producers in the electoral process and activates
grassroots involvement in pursuit of the public policy priorities
of NCGA.
“The CornPAC provides
growers with the opportunity to help those who have helped us,”
said Curt Watson, a Minnesota farmer who is president of the CornPAC.
“The auction gives us a chance to help the advocates of agriculture
who support NCGA’s public policy goals. We’re looking
forward to having another fun and successful event.”
Among the items auctioned
at last year’s first-ever CornPAC auction were an expenses-paid
trip to California’s Napa Valley, tickets to a NASCAR race,
500 hours of use on a Case IH tractor, one-year use of a seed tender,
expenses-paid hunting trips and dozens of smaller items such as
artwork, golf bags and collectible toy tractors.
This year’s auction
promises to be even bigger and better, Watson said. Already, more
than 15 agribusinesses have agreed to sponsor the event and more
non-traditional items will be auctioned this year.
“There will definitely
be something for everyone at the auction,” Watson said. “The
state associations, individual corn growers and our industry friends
all contribute unique and exciting items for the auction.”
Since its creation in
2003, the CornPAC has contributed approximately $14,000 to 20 candidates.
The event will be held from 7–9 p.m. in Salon F/G of the Austin
Hilton. For more information, contact Ryan Reed at (202) 628-7001.