This article is part of a series profiling candidates for the 2020 Corn Board.
After more than a decade of involvement with the National Corn Growers Association, Dan Cole believes that the need for growers to stand up and be counted has never been greater. After serving on many teams covering a diverse array of topics, he hopes to grow his service also as a member of the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board.
Cole decided to run for election to the Corn Board to help bring the perspective he has gained over the years, both through the people that he has met and from his unique experience as a small farmer. A man who has truly never met a stranger, he focuses on developing a deep understanding of his fellow farmers’ situations and, through his ability to communicate, he brings a grassroots voice to board conversations while also working to foster unity and cooperation through relationship building.
“NCGA’s greatest strength lies in its grassroots, federation structure. Directed by a common love for American agriculture and our carefully-crafted policies, NCGA brings together both the voices and funds of all of America’s farmers to achieve an impact far greater than any one part could alone.”
If elected, Cole will work to get the free trade agreements crucial to international trade ratified, while working simultaneously to expand markets for ethanol and livestock at home and abroad. In building those markets and increasing farmer profitability, he sees improving farmers’ relationship with consumers and the greater public as critical to success.
Recently, NCGA’s Off the Cob podcast series sat down with Cole to discuss the most important topics, from what inspires such service to his goals for the organization and to gain his perspectives on leadership.
To listen to the full interview, click here.
Please note, if you have a weak or spotty internet connection, double click on the vertical stack of three dots to the right of the speaker symbol at the center of the screen that appears when you click the link above. This will allow you to play the podcast in its entirety without interruption.
COVID-19 Resources
NCGA is taking a series of actions to do our part to help contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the economic fallout it is creating for corn farmers and our customers. Short term, this means instituting policies to protect the health and safety of our stakeholders and the broader communities we serve. Long term, we’re focused on creating solutions to help corn farmers and our customers recover from the financial impacts of this crisis.
CommonGround
CommonGround is a group of farmers connecting with consumers through conversations about science and research and personal stories about food and misinformation surrounding farming. Supported by the NCGA and state corn organizations.
SHP
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is a farmer-led initiative that fosters transformation in agriculture through improved soil health. Administered by NCGA the partnership has more than 220 working farms enrolled in 16 states. SHP’s mission is to utilize science and data to partner with farmers who are adopting conservation agricultural practices that improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the farm.