New farmer leaders for the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board will bring extensive experience dealing with policy issues and market development to their respective boards. The state corn grower organizations held their annual policy meeting on August 23 in Des Moines.

Edwards to lead Iowa Corn Growers Association

Gary Edwards, a corn and soybean grower from Anamosa in Linn County for more than 25 years, is the new ICGA president. An ICGA board member since 2001, Edwards has been especially involved in conservation and water quality issues, including work with the EPA/USDA water quality project, the Iowa Nutrient Management Task Force, and as a farmer representative to the Hypoxia Task Force.
Joining Edwards on the ICGA officer team are:

* Tim Recker, Arlington, as ICGA past president
* Don Elsbernd, Postville, ICGA president-elect
* Dean Taylor, Prairie City, ICGA secretary/treasurer.

McAlexander heads Iowa Corn Promotion Board

Darrel McAlexander, from Sidney in Fremont County, has been named the new ICPB chair. McAlexander, a farmer for 42 years, has done extensive work in the value-added and export areas, including chairing the U.S. Grains Council's biotechnology committee and the ICPB's market development committee. He is also a director-owner of Iowa Quality Maize, a farmer-owned organization that markets identity-preserved grain.

Rounding out the ICPB officers are:

* Julius Schaaf of Randolph, ICPB past chair
* Tim Burrack of Arlington, as chair-elect
* Dick Gallagher of Washington, as ICPB secretary/treasurer.

The ICPB and ICGA share a common mission to create opportunities for long-term Iowa corn grower profitability. The ICGA represents 6,000 members and lobbies on a variety of agricultural issues important to growers. The ICPB is responsible for investing Iowa corn checkoff funds to develop and defend markets, conduct research, and provide education about corn and corn products.