Iowa Corn Checkoff schedules July 12 elections for Crop District 9

JOHNSTON ? Corn growers in Crop Reporting District 9 will vote July 12 at their county Extension offices for a northwest Iowa representative on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

District 9 candidates are Wayne Humphreys and Ptricia Koller.

Humphreys raises corn, soybeans and operates a custom hog feeding operation near Columbus Junction in Louisa County. He has been farming for 37 years.

Humphreys is currently a member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and a member of the Iowa Farm Bureau Association. He also currently volunteers with the Muscatine FFA chapter.

In the past, he has been the president of the Louisa County Cattleman?s Association, a director for the Mississippi Valley Farm Business Association and a member of the Farm Credit Nominating Committee. He also has been a National FFA officer.

In addition to farming, Humphreys is a member of the National Speakers Association and the United Methodist Church.

He and his wife Sherry have three children.

Koller raises corn, soybeans, hay, cattle and finishes hogs near Donnellson in Lee County. She has been farming for 30 years with her husband Kenneth.

Koller is the assistant commissioner for the Lee County Soil and Water District and a member of the Lee County Extension Council. She is also a member of the Iowa Independent Crop Consultant Association, the Iowa Soybean Association and is one of the founding members of the Iowa Cow Dog Club.

In the past, she served as the chairman of the Lee County Soil and Water District.

In addition to farming, Koller is a member of the St. Paul United Church of Christ Church and is a graduate of Leadership Iowa.

The election winner will serve a three-year term representing corn growers from Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington counties.

Anyone who has produced and marketed 250 bushels of corn or more in Iowa in the previous year can vote in the election. Producers unable to visit an Extension office on July 12 may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots will be available until Monday and must be postmarked by July 12.

Iowa growers elect 17 of their peers to serve on the board to oversee the investment of funds generated by the Iowa corn checkoff. The board?s primary activities include domestic and foreign market development, research into new and value-added corn uses, and education about the corn industry.

For more information on the ICPB or director elections, contact the ICPB office at 515-225-9242 or 5505 NW 88th St., No. 100, Johnston 50131.