This article is part of a series profiling candidates for the 2020 Corn Board.
A life-long farmer with a deep passion for agriculture that has only grown stronger over time, Dennis McNinch gained unique experiences through off-farm work after graduating from college in the early 1980s. Now, he would like to share that combined experience in agricultural and rural finance and passion for farming to the service of others as a member of the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board.
McNinch decided to run for the Corn Board because he sees the need for a strong voice in agriculture to ensure that the farmers of today and generations to come are properly represented. With a passion for farming born as a small child tagging alongside his grandfather on the farm, he has gained valuable experience working both on the farm and off, with Farm Credit where he worked for 32-years. As a Corn Board member, he would listen to not only the farmers in his state but to farmers from all states, to develop strategies to confront and solve difficult problems courageously.
“As I look at my young grandchildren, I worry about their future. However, I believe that hard work never goes unrewarded, and I am committed to continue working hard to ensure that they have the best opportunities to succeed going forward. Likewise, I will work equally as hard on the Corn Board to ensure that generations of American corn families to come have a foundation under them to succeed as well.”
If elected, McNinch would work to ensure NCGA continues to develop new markets for corn and corn products while facilitating a strong working relationship between NCGA and its member states. Focusing on educating both the public and legislators on corn, he would strive to be a calming voice in the constantly changing agricultural environment while searching for the best possible outcomes for corn farmers as they navigate through tomorrow’s problems.
Recently, NCGA’s Off the Cob podcast series sat down with McNinch 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.
Also, stay tuned as NCGA will also feature detailed candidate profiles this week as growers prepare for the 2019 July Corn Congress in Washington, which will be held July 17 and 18.
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.