The presidents of ASA and NCGA joined emcee John Phipps on stage and discussed the current status and the future of their respective commodities. They sat in a conversational setting with three leather chairs for a casual-setting discussion.

Phipps asked these men questions about the challenges and opportunities that have arisen in their industries in this last year. Bob Metz, president of ASA, noted that the USDA went beyond expectations in regards to soybean rust. Gerald Tumbleson, NCGA president, said that ethanol has been in the works for so many years that when consumption and consumer acceptance rose to such a high level as it is today, it was unexpected but fully welcomed.

They both commented on the immense opportunity that growers have today. Renewable fuels gives future generations exciting and new ideas to bring to their farms. And both of their farm families take pride in their innovations. As Metz said, “The next generation will always do a better job than the previous.”

Okay, Agriculture Secretary Johanns just entered to a standing ovation, so I will take to switch back to taking notes…

Happy Friday! This morning Monsanto held a press conference to discuss soybean production in the United States. They introduced their new product line VISTIVE™.

Yesterday was the grand opening of this year’s trade show here at the Commodity Classic. There was a lot to discover on the trade show floor, and Mary and I were not shy to test some of the interactive components of the displays.

At our first stop, we were pulled in by the energetic team at the Golden Harvest booth to take part in a remote control car race. Mary won the race. Mary won the race big time. I was completely unable to make the remote control car go forward much less make it go around a small track. Let’s just say I lacked the motor skills.

It’s not often that you see boots like these. But then they’re being worn by a very unique and wonderful person who brightens any room she walks into. Your job is to guess who.

The Marconi Museum hosted the yield winners of the NCGA 2005 yield contest representing Dekalb and Asgrow.

Singer Gary Morris performed before the awards portion of the evening, and he did an amazing job. It was a night of an unexpected flashback as Morris played “Wind Beneath My Wings,” which was the song my sixth class sang at our graduation. Yes, I am young, but that was quite a few years ago.

Farmers yielding impressive amounts such as 306 bushels/acre as the Mez-Farm in Bagley, Wisconsin did were surrounded by cars worth up to one million dollars.

It was a night of celebration, a night of pride in hard work, and a night focusing on the promise of the future of agriculture and what high yields can mean toward renewable energies and the commodity markets. The 31 states that represented the winners in this contest, indicates the strong national production that U.S. farmers can be very proud of.

I love Michael Peterson! He is here at the 2006 Commodity Classic promoting his new CD “Down on the Farm”. He was gracious enough to give me his signature and take a picture with Margy and I and Chuck was kind enough to get us a signed copy of his new CD!!!