The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) presented its inaugural SSGA Alliance Honors during its 2020 Annual Meeting on Thursday. The Alliance Honors, which will be presented annually recognize individuals and organizations that helped grow the organization and the identity preserved (IP) industry over the past year. Awards are presented for stewardship, advancing transportation, advancing IP and advancing SSGA as a whole.

The first SSGA Alliance Honors were awarded to Curt Petrich (Advancing SSGA), Bruce Abbe (Advancing Transportation), Todd Sinner (Advancing IP) and the North Dakota Soybean Council (Stewardship).

Here are the citations for each award:

Curt Petrich, Advancing SSGA

For distinguished service to the goals of building a national business association. For tireless, visionary leadership in creating a sustainable future for SSGA and all IP-related exports from the United States. Mr. Petrich’s has:

  • Over a period of nine years, devoted thousands of volunteers without reward, establishing the key strategies and activities that SSGA has implemented since its creation two years ago. And in transitioning from NGFSA and Midwest Shippers Association to a new organization.
  • Established new relations with USDA and foreign officials in Canada and Japan that reduced the barriers to export for SSGA members and directed the association to achieve real, concrete benefits to the members.
  • Kept SSGA at the top-of his to-do list. Each week, Mr. Petrich advised the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Executive Director, often coming up with creative, key messaging to use to explaining IP and SSGA to U.S. and international audiences.
  • Tirelessly contacted members and prospective members and identified and improved SSGA’s delivery of service. Mr. Petrich served as the chief national advocate to government, other organizations, and the press in dozens of speaking roles in meetings, outreach, events, and interviews.
  • Petrich’s bookshelf-decorated office, broadcast on Zoom, Skype, or Teams, will now have an award richly deserved displayed on it.

Bruce Abbe, Advancing Transportation

For exemplary achievement in creating new and real opportunities for better efficient transport and logistics management for SSGA members and North Central and inland shipping. This has included:

  • Responding to crises affecting North Central and inland intermodal shipping. Mr. Abbe, with expertise and activity, proved superbly addressed rail and intermodal crises. Coping with port slowdowns from strikes or equipment shortages, transportation disruptions caused by changes in policy from rail and ocean carriers, Mr. Abbe wrote special alerts for members, formed action plans to resolve issues, and led work to address member problems.
  • Insights and stamina in speaking to international and national authorities about transportation issues. Mr. Abbe’s signature or support of an issue conveys to SSGA members and constituents authority, accuracy, and strong solutions. SSGA grew nationally in stature and recognition with members, member customers, other organizations, government and the press.
  • Increasing and maintaining the membership in SSGA during the transition to a new organization. Mr. Abbe has added significant value to SSGA through his advice to the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Executive Director.

Todd Sinner, Advancing IP

For distinguished leadership of the SSGA’s Food Grade Soya Action Team. Since early 2019, and for the first two years of its existence, Mr. Sinner brought creativity and direction to SSGA goals and accomplishments with this action team including:

  • Delaying implementation of the Japan phytosanitary certificate. Recognizing that the imposition of the certificate was a burden to IP grains and oilseeds, Mr. Sinner energized staff to work, leading meetings and work plans with international, federal, and state government representatives of the Japan Embassy, USDA – FGIS and APHIS, and other organizations, directly resulting in a three-year delay of implementation.
  • Creating a new pathway for export phytosanitary certification. Mr. Sinner led the action team toward negotiations with USDA on development of new export certification programs, strategizing and writing basic drafts of documents that will result in a new, more efficient alternative for IP exporters.
  • Market Access in India. Mr. Sinner participated in strategy and negotiations that developed a better, industry-focused program that works with associations in India to open the market to U.S. IP grains and oilseeds such as soya.
  • Public speaking and leadership. Mr. Sinner made many successful outreaches, to the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange, the EU Bridge to Food summit, and the Southeast Asia Soyfood Symposium. He successfully networked to increase the membership of SSGA and the Food Grade Soya Action Team. He led regular meetings of the action team, giving hundreds of volunteer hours to its successful operation over two years of work so far.

North Dakota Soybean Council, Stewardship

For strong leadership and financial stewardship in establishing SSGA as a national business association. NDSC’s board, growers and staff have:

  • Given significant volunteer hours and financial support to SSGA as a new organization, assisting its growth to becoming the national business association of the identity preserved field crop sector and a recognized leader in North Central and inland intermodal transportation. NDSC staff and farmer leaders have appeared in SSGA promotions, outreach, and events, providing excellent viewpoints and support.
  • Recognized the alliances and partnership potential of a national organization, ensuring the transition of the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association to SSGA by being an early supporter – at its very start. This collaboration has brought recognition to North Dakota as one of the leading voices in establishing new national priorities for the IP marketplace. NDSC brought to bear time and attention to making strategy with SSGA business members, and especially in jointly supporting the collaborations of SSGA with the Northern Crop Institute. That leadership ensured the continued success of each organization and centered the growth of future training regarding soybeans in North Dakota.
  • Been involved with and supported SSGA’s crisis management, data collection, and events related to intermodal and rail transportation, such that new intermodal opportunities for the products of North Dakota soybean farmers have been realized. New rails links have been established and significant new policies enacted to reduce new fees from rail carriers, regarding weight limits for trucking, resolution of container equipment shortages, and better visioning on the future of the North Central–PNW rail link.