FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, U.S. — The CHS Foundation has awarded a $2.5 million grant to North Dakota State University (NDSU) to establish the CHS Chair in Risk Management and Trading.

The chair will be part of the Agribusiness and Applied Economics Department of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources. Its first director of the endowed chair will be William Wilson, a distinguished professor in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at NDSU.

Programs funded by the endowment are intended to better prepare more students going into the commodity marketing field. The funds also will help the school create a teaching and training platform for students pursuing careers in risk and trading, and expand and upgrade the university’s producer outreach and extension programs.

“As the leading researcher and educator in agriculture for North Dakota, NDSU greatly values its partnership with CHS and the CHS Foundation,” said Dean L. Bresciani, president of NDSU. “The vision and commitment of the private sector is a powerful testament to the importance of educating future leaders for the industry. On behalf of NDSU, I want to extend a warm thank you to the CHS Foundation and to CHS cooperative- and farmer-owners.”

Linda Tank, CHS senior vice-president for communications and public affairs, said, “Students pursuing careers as global commodities traders, or in risk management, will clearly benefit by having curriculum specifically tailored to their education and focus. In turn, regional agribusinesses benefit by having a solid pipeline of highly qualified, future employees.”

The CHS Foundation is the major giving entity of CHS Inc., Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, U.S., a farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company.