Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine
February 2001

Sights and Scenes From the Prairie Grains Conference

Close to 400 producers and agribusiness leaders from North Dakota and Minnesota attended the recent Prairie Grains Conference in Fargo, under the theme “Harvest the Energy of Change.” The conference, with about 75 sponsors and trade show exhibitors, involved the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Minnesota Barley Growers Association, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, Northland Community and Technical College Farm Business Management, the NDSU Extension Service, and ND Farm Business Management Education Program.

“The banker isn’t successful unless the farmer is”
As former president of the Bank of North Dakota, John Hoeven would know. In one of his first public speeches since being elected governor of North Dakota, Hoeven outlined his agenda to attendees of the Prairie Grains Conference, including strengthening the state’s economy through business recruitment and expansion. His plans include an investment tax credit, wiring the state to a high-speed network, and streamlining the state’s economic development structure.  He also pledged support to advancing future federal farm policies, voicing his favor of the NAWG’s idea of a counter-cyclical federal payment triggered when crop prices fall below a certain level. “We need changes in federal farm policy. Producers need to be able to do business on a long-term basis. So as governor, I am committed to weighing in on this process,” Hoeven said.

Picture Perfect
Coleharbor, ND, producer Don Paulson (center) won a Terry Redlin print at the Prairie Grains Conference, courtesy of Syngenta. With Paulson are Syngenta representatives Jamie Eichorn (left) and Emmett Lambert (right). Ron Dvergsten, East Grand Forks, MN, was also a print winner. The drawings were held for contributors to MN and ND Political Action Committees.

Exporting snow to Montana
To help combat the complaint by Montana wheat producer Gary Broyles about dry field conditions in his state, officers of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers offered to export some of the snow from their state, giving Broyles a scoop shovel and a five-gallon pail of it. From left are MAWG president Ron Anderson, Hallock; MAWG secretary/treasurer Gaylen Affield, Fergus Falls; Broyles; and MAWG vice president Mike Bruer, Alberta. Broyles, who serves as secretary-treasurer of the NAWG, made an impassioned plea to attendees of the Prairie Grains Conference to stay (or become) involved in activities that advance the U.S wheat industry.

Hamming it up
Members of the musical group Marcoux Corner (named for the intersection of Hwys 2 and 32 not far from the MN Wheat office in Red Lake Falls) ham for the camera while entertaining attendees of the Prairie Grains Conference.

Four-wheelin’ dreamin’

MAWG board member Scott Swenson and his son check out a Polaris ATV on display at the Prairie Grains Conference.

Catching up
The annual Prairie Grains Conference is a great place to interact with members and friends of the region’s grain industry. Here, Maynard Satrom of Oriska, ND (left) catches up with Mike Hardy, with Spring Wheat Bakers of Fargo.