BASF, the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association are supporting the future of agriculture by awarding scholarships to young people working towards careers in the industry.
The first scholarship winners were announced today at a Commodity Classic news conference. I did interviews with all the winners who were here, which I will post later, but here is a group photo with the four students with (left to right) Adam Burnhams of BASF, ASA president John Hoffman, champion soybean grower Kip Cullers and NCGA chairman Ken McCauley.
The students pictured are – from left to right:
Lauren Schlosser of Missouri, James Seitzer of Minnesota and Catherine (Catie) Simpson of Colorado – all NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarship winners – and Laura Stevens, a high school senior from Nebraska who won the first ever “Kip Cullers” Secure Optimal Yield (SOY) Scholarship.
(I assume you can figure out the difference between the students and the presenters!)
The other NCGA scholarship winners were Jason Buss of Illinois and Josh Yoder of Ohio. Congrats to all the winners. BASF will continue their sponsorship of this program next year and applications will be available from NCGA and ASA in the fall.
Listen to the scholarship awards press conference here:
cc-08-basf-scholarships.mp3
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
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The BASF theme at Commodity Classic this election year is all about family values – family of growers and family of products. And what better way to visualize that theme than in pictures. 
The BASF booth is giving away disposable cameras and photo frames and encouraging their grower family members to go out and shoot pictures at the Classic and then return the cameras to have them developed. 
Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer announced the appointment of three incumbents and six new members to the 
The head of the Cash Crop Segment for New Holland is Ed Barry who is here at Commodity Classic. He says they have a T8040 Tractor on display and a CR9060 Combine along with a lot of training aids. 
I don’t know if you can see it clearly on this small photo but this baby’s sporting an E85 sticker and her jumper suit says “Smell of Ethanol” on the back. On the front she’s got an Indy Racing League logo too.
I just love babies and there seemed to be quite a few around yesterday afternoon in the trade show. These two are already planning to grow up and be corn/soybean/wheat farmers.
Here’s the New Holland team ready for action in the trade show.
After his speech Secretary Schafer met up with the press near the media room.
Our Secretary of Agriculture made an appearance here at Commodity Classic. He took the stage after we heard from political analyst Charlie Cook who provided a pretty clear analysis of where we’re at with the Presidential campaign.
Craig Lindholm is marketing manager for seed treatments with the 
“What we’re seeing in research trials with new Stamina® fungicide seed treatment and another pipeline seed treatment for soybeans in development are the benefits of controlling key seedling diseases for healthy plants right out of the ground,” Craig said. “This is critical to protecting and maximizing yield by giving seedlings a stronger, faster start, improved plant vigor and increased stands in those critical early days when soils are generally cold and wet.” 