Posted: 12.10.2011

Two Wisconsin corn growers, (pictured) have just returned from a 10 day, 4 country tour in conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council.  Randy Woodward of Chippewa Falls and Nancy Kavazanjian of Beaver Dam, represented the Wisconsin Corn Growers on the trip.

In an interview with Pam Jahnke while still in the airport, Nancy Kavazanjian said that it was an incredible trip - ranging from beef production in Japan to agriculture education in China.

Originally the group was only planning on visiting three countries - but were able to incorporate one more market visit before heading home. This corn leadership mission was designed to bring actual farmers face-to-face with the in country buyers.  Kavazanjian said they met with decision makers in all phases of agribusiness.  In Vietnam, for example, Kavazanjian said they discussed distillers grain sales with buyers.  Vietnam has gone from being 50th on the list of customers for U.S. distillers grains - to the number 15 spot.

Many buyers were concerned about the price they were paying for U.S. corn - but still preferred it to other international sources.  Kavazanjian said that China's Foreign Ag Minister told the group to encourage young people in the United States to get into or stay in agriculture.  "He said 'Go home, tell your kids to stay in agriculture - this country's going to need your products.' We were just so excited walking away from those meetings."

Kavazanjian said she got goosebumps when she visited with a feed buyer in Saigon that specifically purchased his soybeans and distillers grain from the DeLong Company in Clinton, WI.  "You know I said to him if you're buying grain from DeLong - you're buying MY crop!  That kinda gave me goosebumps Pam because here I am half a world away - visiting with a customer for my grain! That was very exciting to me!"

Listen to all the exciting stories from the U.S. Grain Council trip that Nancy Kavazanjian was on by clicking here!

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