USW
2017-18 USW officers from left to right: Chris Kolstad, secretary-treasurer; Mike Miller, vice-chairman; Jason Scott, chairman; Doug Goyings, secretary-treasurer elect; Alan Tracy, president.
Photo courtesy of USW.
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board of directors elected three new officers for the 2017-18 fiscal year during the Feb. 2, meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S. The board elected Doug Goyings as secretary-treasurer, current secretary-treasurer Chris Kolstad as vice-chairman and current vice-chairman Mike Miller as chairman. These farmers will take their new leadership roles at the USW Board meeting in July 2017 in Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. when current chairman Jason Scott will become past chairman. USW is the export market development organization for the U.S. wheat production industry.

“I think it’s important for growers to give back and U.S. Wheat Associates has had such a strong and positive influence on my family’s farming operation as well as many other farms across the nation,” Goyings said. “With many pressing issues for wheat, we need a strong, united industry guiding us forward and I am honored to be a part of the leadership team working to continue to positively affect U.S. wheat farmers.”

USW Doug Goyings

Doug Goyings

Photo courtesy of USW.

Goyings’ family has been farming in northwestern Ohio since 1884. He grows soft red winter (SRW) and has hosted numerous trade teams on their farm. With more than 35 years of experience representing wheat and Ohio agriculture, Goyings has been a member of the USW board while serving as a director for the Ohio Small Grains Checkoff Board since 2009 and is a past chairman of the USW Long-Range Planning Committee. He is also a past-president of his local Farm Bureau and has previously sat on the board of directors for the Ohio Veal Growers Inc., Creston Veal, Inc. and Paulding Landmark, Inc.

“I’m happy to congratulate Doug Goyings for winning the election, I think he’ll make an excellent Secretary-Treasurer,” Scott said. “U.S. Wheat Associates has a strong board, filled with dedicated farmers that are willing to take time out from their own operations to represent wheat farmers. Without this type of leadership our wheat industry would not have the strong foundation and market share it does today. I look forward to working with the team to continue to promote the U.S. wheat grower’s competitive advantage, which is the quality and reliability of supply.”

Kolstad, who was elected as vice-chairman, grows hard red winter (HRW) wheat, dark northern spring wheat and durum, barley and dry peas. As a commissioner of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, Kolstad has represented his state on the USW board since 2012. He is also an active member of the Montana Grain Growers Association and Montana Farm Bureau. His community leadership includes serving on his local school board, as treasurer for his family’s church and has been a regular blood donor since 1972.

Miller, current vice-chairman, is a fourth generation farmer who operates a dryland wheat farm and grows multiple crops on a separate, irrigated farm in east central Washington, U.S. He has served on many local, state and national boards, and is in his third term on the Washington Grain Commission and his fifth year as a USW director representing Washington. Miller is also very active in supporting wheat research and development.

Soon to be past chairman, Jason Scott is the farm manager of Walnut Hill Farms where he produces soft red winter (SRW) wheat, row crops and vegetables. Scott is also an independent sales representative for Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l, under the title Scott’s Seed, LLC. A founding member of the Dorchester County Young Farmers, past president of the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board and the Maryland Grain Producers Association, Scott is no stranger to industry leadership. In 2011, he was presented the Maryland Young Farmers Achievement Award. In his eight years on the USW Board, Scott has represented his state and USW on two board team delegations to Africa and Europe and served as secretary-treasurer, vice-chairman and chairman as well as on several USW committees.