Iowa State University Corn Growers Association Report

The first year of the newly formed Iowa State University Corn Growers Association was successful.

This 72-member organization comprised of Iowa State students exists to increase involvement in Iowa Corn among high school and collegiate students. As with any agricultural student, our members passionately promote the agriculture industry.


Each meeting we ask industry leaders to speak on a particular topic of Iowa or U.S. agriculture. The club has been fortunate to have great guest speakers including: Monte Shaw, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Dr. Steven Johnson, Iowa State University Extension, Iowa Corn Growers Association government relations staff, Iowa Corn District Field Representatives, and Iowa Corn Research & Development staff. The students enjoy attending meetings to hear informative speakers and come together to network with fellow students, eating pizza at each meeting.

The officer team consists of Carly Cummings, Iowa State University Adviser, Lisa Nelson, Liaison between Iowa Corn & ISU Corn Growers Assn., Carrie O’Connell, secretary, Calvin McBride, treasurer, Kelley Glanz, vice-president and myself. The officer team has done an outstanding job in getting the club up and running.

A special thanks goes to the dedicated work of Andrew Lauver, Alyssa Foster, Kyle Fischer, and Logan Lyon for “forming” the organization. Thirty minutes prior to the start of each meeting, the officers meet and discuss the business for the next month’s meeting as well as any issues that need to be taken care of or implemented.

An area we pride ourselves on is the networking with multitudes of professionals from the agriculture industry. We believe that to become industry leaders, we need to have the proper training and networking to conquer the challenges we face in the future.

At the last meeting of the school year, a brainstorming session took place to develop ideas or activities for the next year and years to come. The club plans to carry out many of these activities which include a career planning workshop for College of Ag. & Life Science Students, sponsorship of university activities such as VEISHEA or other events, an agricultural scavenger hunt, and more!

Other colleges and universities around the state with an agricultural program are developing their own collegiate corn growers associations. Officers of these clubs and the Iowa State Corn Growers have discussed tours around the state that all could attend and get to know one another. These students have a substantial amount of knowledge to add to the agriculture industry and their joining of the Iowa State University Corn Growers Association helps make this possible.

By Brent Drey, Iowa State University Corn Growers Association President