ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) 127th annual convention will cover opportunities in the grain, feed, processing and export markets with general session speakers and presentations during the March 21-23 gathering in La Quinta, California, US.

“This year’s convention includes a stellar lineup of agribusiness leaders and federal regulatory officials to address and meet with NGFA members,” said Mike Seyfert, president and chief executive officer, NGFA. “They will provide insightful and timely perspectives on emerging issues for the agricultural value chain, including important transportation investments, risk management assessments, consumer behavior and political outlooks.”

More speakers will be announced before the event. Confirmed general session speakers and presentations so far include:

• “How Consumer Preferences on Sustainability and Diversity are Shaping Your Business” with Erin Condon, director of diversity, inclusion and culture at CGB Enterprises, Megan Rock, chief sustainability officer at CHS Inc., and Steve Wittbecker, chief sustainability officer at CoBank (March 22 Opening General Session);
• “NGFA Chairman’s Address” featuring Greg Beck, senior vice president, grain, CGB Enterprises, Inc. (March 22 Opening General Session)
• “Industry Keynote Address” featuring Donnie Smith, chairman and CEO of Foster Farms (March 23 Closing General Session);
• “A Conversation with the CFTC Chairman” with Rostin Behnam, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (March 23 Closing General Session);
• “2022 Mid-Term Election Analysis” with David Wasserman, senior election analyst at The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and NBC contributor (March 23 Closing General Session).

The convention also includes a Transportation and Technology Open Forum on March 21 that will feature leaders in rail and waterways (in order of appearance):

• “Expectations for the US Freight Rail System in 2023” with Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads;
• “STB Update” with Michelle Schultz, board member of the Surface Transportation Board;
• “The State of our Navigation Infrastructure” with Thomas Heinold, operations division chief at the US Army Corps of Engineers for the Rock Island District

“We are expecting an exceptional turnout for the convention this year and I look forward to meeting new and familiar faces in La Quinta,” Seyfert said. “We also look forward to welcoming the new class of the NGFA Committee Apprentice Program (CAP) and our National Grain and Feed Foundation scholarship winners from the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) student society.”