SSGA elects HC International’s Petrich as chair at annual meeting

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) tabbed Curt Petrich to continue as chair of the premier business association representing identity-preserved (IP) soya and specialty grains.

Petrich, of HC International, Inc. in Fargo, N.D., was re-elected as chair at the inaugural SSGA annual meeting Dec. 3 in Bloomington, Minn. Bob Sinner of SB&B Foods, was voted vice chair, while Keith Schrader of Wheeling Grain Partnership will act as treasurer/secretary.

Petrich said he was surprised but humbled to be re-elected chair.

“I think there is a lot of really good talent in this organization,” he said. I thought maybe it would be time for some new talent to come in, but I am certainly willing to serve this organization.”

Petrich says with the board of directors in place, the organization can focus on improving how it serves the industry.

“I think having working groups meeting more often will be good for the organization,” he said. “We intend to stay laser focused on issues so we can deliver meaningful results for this industry.”

SSGA members also voted on board members at its meeting, expanding upon the board set after the merger of Midwest Shippers Association and the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association. Board members for SSGA serve staggered terms of either 1-, 2- or 3-year terms.

SSGA’s board of directors is:

• Petrich, HC International, Inc., 1-year
• Schrader, Wheeling Grain Partnership, 1-year
• Sinner, SB&B Foods, 2-year
• Rick Brandenburger, Richland IFC, 2-year
• Rob Prather, Global Processing, Inc., 2-year
• Andy Bensend, AB Farms, 3-year
• Adam Buckentine, The Redwood Group, 3-year
• Darwin Rader, Zeeland Farm Services, Inc., 3-year

“We have such a talented and experienced group of producers, processors and shippers on this board,” said Eric Wenberg, SSGA executive director. “We’re really excited to continue to grow SSGA and IP, food-variety field crops worldwide.”

First of many firsts

While SSGA has existed for nearly a year, Tuesday’s annual meeting was its first chance to bring members together to help mold the direction of the organization moving forward.

Tuesday’s meetings saw breakout sessions on food-grade soya, specialty grains and competitive shipping.

Sinner, who attended the food-grade soya and competitive shipping breakout sessions, said he was pleased with the amount of discussion that occurred, but lamented there wasn’t more time for discussion.

“I was really impressed with the IP and food-grade soya session, and I hope we expand upon it next year,” he said. “We talked about market access, about opportunities and challenges, and we discussed the U.S. Global Trade Exchange. I really enjoyed the thoughtful dialogue and interaction from all participants.”

Wenberg was pleased with the day’s events. He said SSGA’s annual meeting is an important venue for the industry.

“This is a fantastic networking opportunity for people across the country to check signals with each other,” he said. “At times, it can seem like every company in this industry is its own ecosystem — they have to source product, they deal with logistics, they do marketing, they adhere to strict identity-preserved practices. Here they get to talk to the people that have the same challenges and opportunities and learn from one another.”

SSGA members also heard presentations from Trevor Fouts, Strategic Sales Manager for AGI, which was the major sponsor of the meeting. Fouts discussed traceability and how AGI’s SureTrack plays a role in the IP, food-variety field crops industry.

United Soybean Board director Nancy Kavazanjian of Beaver Dam, Wisc., discussed her experiences and challenges as an IP producer, and U.S. Soybean Export Council’s Paul Burke, Senior Director – U.S. Soy Marketing, delivered an update from the organization.