Page 26-Corn Talk, Lancaster Firming, Saturday, January 25, 1997 Farmers Strengthen Association With Determination, Time ST. LOUIS, Mo. Com growers should support the organization that represents the commodity they grow. That’s just one of the many truths shared by the National Com Growers Association’s (NGGA) top 1996 membership recruiters. An NCGA member for over IS years, much of Marion Hoffman’s time during the winter months is invested on behalf of com growers. Hoff man sits on the board of direc tors of the South Carolina Com Growers Association and raises com, sobyeans and wheat in Tuibeville, SC. “The farmer’s voice is shrinking in the country. The NCGA not only helps farmers gain one voice in legislation, but it also helps us market our crop by promoting new uses,’’ said Hoffman. Before Hoffman started recruiting members, the South Carolina Com Growers Asso ciation membership had dropped to about 100 mem bers. “I wanted to show the other state com grower board mem bers that it just takes a little bit of time and some drive to build a bigger association.” Last winter, local seed com panies allowed Hoffman a few minutes at the beginning of their marketing meetings to talk with farmers about the rea sons to become an NCGA member. “I tell farmers about how the NCGA represents them on issues like ethanol and envir onmental regulations things that affect com growers in South Carolina.” He asks them to join the NCGA and hands out member->• ship applications with postage paid envelopes. Hoffman signed up the most new NCGA members this year 117. The One That Got Away Myron Peterson will never again leave home without an NCGA membership form. About a year ago, Peterson borrowed the Minnesota Com Grower Association’s ethanol promotional vehicle to drive in a local parade near his home in Sacred Heart, Minn. When the parade was over, he needed to deliver it to fellow com grower association member Richard Peterson (no relation) to use. They decided to meet and swap vehicles halfway between their farms at a small tmck-stop/cafe in Sandbom, Minn. While they were drinking a cup of coffee in the cafe, the part-owner of the service sta tion spotted the car with etha nol stickers in the parking lot. The service station owner found Myron and Richard in the cafe and began a conversa tion with them about promot ing ethanol and the benefits of using the renewable fuel. “This guy was a strong sup porter of ethanol and said he got at the station,” said Myron Peterson. Myron said he and Richard asked the owner if he wanted to join the NCGA which pro motes industrial uses of com such as ethanol. They dug around in their pockets for a membership form and both came up empty-handed. “I probably lost that guy as a member. But, I learned a very valuable lesson that day. I always have an NCGA mem bership form with me now.” said Myron Peterson, who helped his state association (D«M TTMJK NlW§ PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC., INC. Meeting all your application equipment needs. G¥M INCORPORATED 374 HEIDLERSBURG ROAD • BIGLERVILLE, PA 17307 • 717-677-6197 • 800-345-3546 FAX 717-677-4291 reach a total of 3,571 members. Tips For Success The NCGA’s other national membership recruiter, Roger Hilliard of Wisconsin Dells, Wis., shared a few of his tips for successful recruiting: • Don’t be afraid to spend time listening to com growers. Don’t be afraid to say what’s on your mind. • Be a model citizen. • Get involved at the grass roots level. You don’t have to speak in front of a big group of people. Get involved in local events. GVM Hydra Spray Ethanol: America’s Fuel For The 21st Century (Continued from Page 2S) billion barrel-per-day demand American jobs. The ethanol won’t come cheaply. Already, industry is currently rcsponsi- refiners in the U.S., Europe and ble for over 40,000 direct and Japan that a decade ago pro indirect American jobs, contri- duced at 75 percent of maxi buting more than $5.6 billion, mum capacity, are being work annually to the U.S. economy, ed at nearly 95 percent capaci- Ethanol production utilizes ty. Wouldn’t it be wise for the more than 5 percent of the U.S. to secure its energy needs nation’s com crop. The com before a worldwide shortage demand for ethanol production occurs? increased com producers’ We as citizens need to let incomes by more than $1.2 bil* our elected representatives lion —or about 11 percent know of our commitment to in 1994. renewable sources for Ameri- Ethanol industry develop ment reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Simmons & Co., a Houston-based oil consulting firm, predicts that world oil demand will grow by 11 billion barrels per day over the next five years, while currently pro- ducing fields reduce produc- tion by 8 billion barrels per day. Meeting this additional 19 ca’s energy needs in the 21st century. Contact your mem bers of Congress today! Manufacturers of: • Row-Cat & Agri-Cat • Hydra Spray Line of Floaters & Pick-up Sprayers • Hydra Slide • Tran Spread Floater, Truck & Pull Spreaders • Foam Markers • Nozzle Alerts Distributors of: • Norwesco Tanks • A wide variety of pumps, valves, couplings, fittings & hose • Spraying Systems Accessories • Rayman Tenders • Melroe Spra*Coupes • Swinger Loaders & Spreaders • P & H Spreaders • Layco' Blenders & Conveyors • Precision Pull & ATV Sprayers
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