Member Appreciation Night is new, exclusive event for policy supporters

By Chris Cherry, President 
Indiana Corn Growers Association 

I find it a little funny that so many people have the wrong idea of farmers. To some, we are slow to change, slow to innovate and locked into tradition. The truth is, we are always looking for better ways to grow a crop and better results. If anyone produces a corn crop the same way they did 20 years ago, they are going to find it difficult to remain in business. 

The same is true in other efforts, too. As president of the Indiana Corn Growers Association, we’re always looking for new ways to share information with our members about the issues we’re fighting for at the Statehouse in Indianapolis and Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. 

The Ag Policy Summit – one of our more important events each year – is very different than it has been in the past. In the past couple of years, we have reduced the number of speakers and provided for more time for farmers to network with each other, ag stakeholders and state legislators. We have seen better results from this strategy. Now, we’re going to add another opportunity to network. 

New this year is the Member Appreciation Night – an exclusive event only for paid members of ICGA and Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee (M&P). This will be an evening of fun, food and fellowship as a perk and appreciation to those who support our policy organization’s work. 

The Member Appreciation Night will be July 30 at West Fork Whiskey in Westfield, Ind. Paid members can bring a guest to join us for dinner, drinks, giveaways and organizational updates. Raffle items will be awarded throughout the evening as you network with fellow corn and soybean farmer leaders. 

The West Fork Whiskey Co. was launched in 2015 in downtown Indianapolis, Ind., by co-founders Blake Jones and David McIntyre. They create sip-able, smooth whiskeys that are always made with 100 percent Indiana grain. Their Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Rum Finish Cask Strength whiskey won 2023 Best in State, an award sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. They recently moved to a new distillery and restaurant in Westfield. 

The annual Indiana Ag Policy Summit the next day, July 31, at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville, Ind. Invite your friends to become members to join in the fun. ICGA and M&P staff will have more details as we get closer to the event. 

Ag Policy Summit registration will open at 7:30 a.m. The program will get underway at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at approximately 12:30 pm. The Summit’s new Technology Showcase will be open during registration and following the program. Summit topics will include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s draft Herbicide Strategy. Our guest speaker is former USDA Secretary Mike Johanns and other speakers will offer policy updates and forecasts. 

Our staff continues to diligently work on the details. Anyone with questions about the Member Appreciation Night should contact ICGA Industry Affairs Outreach Manager Khyla Goodman by email at kgoodman@incorn.org. Those wanting to know more about the Ag Policy Summit – or to register – should contact ICGA Industry Affairs Project Manager Emily McNiff at emcniff@incorn.org. 

Find other upcoming events here.