September/
October 1998
Interview With New NAWG CEO Jack Eberspacher has one mission: greater profit for wheat producers
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
Then it's somewhat ironic that as the new CEO of the NAWG, Eberspacher will focus more effort on impacting wheat profitability outside the legislative circles of Washington, DC. His recent selection as NAWG CEO is part of a long-range planning process put in place by the NAWG's board of directors, emphasizing industry alliances as the basis for growth and profitability within all segments of the wheat industry.
Eberspacher's background: As CEO of the NGSPA, he managed the group's legislative, regulatory, research, education and market development programs for about eight years. Before that, he managed Quercus Farms in Atlanta, Georgia and the Purebred Beef Cattle Center at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Eberspacher holds a bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Nebraska, and he pursued graduate studies in marketing and management at Texas Tech University.
In between his recent move from Texas to DC, Eberspacher found time to answer questions for Prairie Grains.
PG: What prompted you to leave the National Grain Sorghum Producers Association to become CEO of the NAWG?
Eberspacher: I was encouraged to submit my name for consideration. Obviously it is a great opportunity to head a major commodity like wheat. Sorghum is more domestic whereas wheat is a more global player.
PG: How do you feel about taking over the helm of the NAWG during what might be the most challenging period in the organization's 48-year history?
Eberspacher: There are big challenges and big opportunities that lie ahead. I have found that when focusing on the real priority issues you can make big change, and we will. I am excited to dive in and help.
PG: What skills do you bring to the NAWG that you believe will help the organization and its members weather through this difficult time?
Eberspacher: I bring to NAWG a lifetime of agriculture experience and eight and a half years of association management experience. I prefer to lead by facts and figures and try to eliminate as much emotion as possible in the decision-making process. I truly believe sorghum is heading in the right direction as a result of proper analysis of their issues and a unified approach to fixing those issues.
PG: What are the key issues for American wheat growers, as you see them?
Eberspacher: What I know and what information I have read signals to me several important issues. First and foremost, global trade policy is paramount to our future. European subsidies at $44 billion versus our $4 billion is difficult to comprehend. This is a big issue that we will take head on. Research appears to be another issue, maintaining federal funds to be leveraged with producer checkoff dollars in order to confront plant disease matters.
PG: What is the NAWG doing, or going to do, to address these issues?
Eberspacher: The NAWG developed a Wheat Action Plan last winter and progress is being made toward accomplishing the objectives that were laid out at that time. The effort of the NAWG and its states in informing its legislatures of the seriousness of today's prices is becoming understood and solutions are being debated.
PG: What things do you think the NAWG has done well as a grower organization? What things can it do better?
Eberspacher: Over the years the NAWG has done an excellent job representing producers on domestic policy, particularly support payments for the growers. Maintaining EEP funds has also been well represented to combat in fair trade practices. I believe the wheat industry has to work hard at developing a unified message. The word that we get from legislatures today is loud and clear: commodity groups need to speak in a more unified voice. Obviously that cannot be achieved if we, as a commodity organization, cannot develop a consensus.
PG: What are your priorities for the NAWG? Where do you want to focus your attention?
Eberspacher: In the short term, my priorities are to get to know the people that make up this organization and to learn how I can assist in achieving the long range goals and objectives. Continuing the long range planning process will remain at the forefront of priorities. There is a great staff in place and I will assist them where I can or where they may need help. Communication with the officers, states, and media will remain a priority of mine along with the crucial upcoming global trade talks.
PG: As you know, when wheat growers join their state wheat associations, they also automatically become members of the NAWG. Let's say I'm a nonmember. Why should I join the wheat growers' organization?
Eberspacher: One of the most rewarding things I have experienced over the last eightyears at the Sorghum Producers was the fact that commodity groups truly can and do influence critical legislative policy. That can have a big impact on producers and the commodity itself. The wheat producer is the one that has to stand up for his industry. One of our priorities is fixing the trade distortions that are hurting our producers today, particularly in this difficult time of low prices.
PG: Is a political action committee important for wheat farmers? If so, how might the wheat PAC become stronger?
Eberspacher: Yes, I believe a Political Action Committee is important for wheat farmers. I have found that there are good legislative people on both sides of the aisle who are genuinely interested in your welfare. I believe it is an important gesture on our part to help those who are willing to fight for us.
PG: Why do we need a specific commodity organization when it seems as if more issues are becoming generalized, such as trade and regulatory relief?
Eberspacher: I believe commodity groups today are working more closely together than ever before on broad issues. However, I do believe that competition is what we built this country on and it is competition that makes each commodity better in all facets of production, utilization, and policy. It is a competitive world and that is reality.
PG: What alliances and partnerships do you see the NAWG developing?
Eberspacher: We will grow and maintain close alliances with U.S. Wheat Associates, the Wheat Foods Council, North American Millers Federation, American Bakers Association, exporters, agri-business, and others as deemed important. We won't always agree, but bridging as many gaps as possible, where appropriate, will be incredibly helpful.
PG: Do you anticipate any change in direction for the NAWG?
Eberspacher: I believe the directors have already set a new course for the NAWG. They want to reach out to all of the key players, which is going to make the U.S. wheat industry stronger and more profitable.
PG: Let's look ten years into the future. What's your vision of the NAWG and the U.S. wheat industry in 2008?
Eberspacher: The U.S. wheat industry will have truly broken down the global policy issues that we previously discussed. The producers will have greater access to world markets, which will hopefully alleviate the market problems such as those we are faced with today. I also believe that there will be more contract production of different varieties of wheat and more specialized markets. What we need to be sure of is that all of these efforts lead to greater profit for the producer.
PG: All work and no play makes for a burned-out NAWG CEO. What does Jack Eberspacher do when he has leisure time?
Eberspacher: I have a great family and two young children, Sam and Maggie, who are 9 and 7, respectively. They keep their mother and I very busy with their school and sports activities and they will receive much of my leisure time. I also like to work outdoors, so our home and surroundings become the farm that I never made it back to. n