Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-Minn.), left, accepts the NCGA President's Award from NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson at Corn Congress in Washington, D.C. Gutknecht has been a strong supporter of corn growers and agriculture.

Gutknecht Receives NCGA’s President’s Award (7-13-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) presented its President’s Award to Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-Minn.) today at the Washington Corn Congress for his outstanding support to corn growers and agriculture.

“Representative Gutknecht is a very good friend of agriculture,” said NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson. “He has been a big help in getting several dry grind (ethanol) plants in his district.”

In accepting the award, Gutknecht said, “The people in this room really represent the best of agriculture and the best of the American culture. You really have that roll up your sleeves, get it done attitude that is the envy of the world. This is a group I hold in especially high esteem.”

Gutknecht said he quotes Tumbleson often when he speaks with groups.

“There are only two things the world needs: one is energy and one is protein,’” Gutknecht said. “And that is important to agriculture in general and to the United States of America. We really have an opportunity to produce the two things the world needs more of and do it more efficiently.”

Growers also discussed policies regarding farm programs and policies at the Policy and Position Papers segment of Corn Congress.

Also at Corn Congress, Richard Hess from Idaho National Laboratory presented “Feedstock Supply System for a Multiple Resource Biorefinery Industry,” highlighting the future of the ethanol industry and corn farmers’ roles.

NCGA also held its policy and position papers consideration at the final session of Corn Congress for 2006.