Mark Wilson of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board has been elected chairman of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) at its 65th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wilson, a veteran farmer and long-time council delegate, pledged to focus on sustaining grain movement in a challenging trade climate under the theme “The Time Is Now.”

Mark Wilson, who operates a corn and soybean farm in Toulon, Illinois, will lead the USGC Board of Directors for the coming year. Wilson has been a council delegate for a decade, serving in roles such as corn sector director, Innovation & Sustainability A-Team lead, Asia A-Team lead, and chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. In his acceptance remarks, Wilson thanked past chairmen for their leadership and vowed to work tirelessly to keep U.S. grain exports moving.

The newly elected officers include Jay Reiners of the Nebraska Corn Board as vice chairman and Jay Fischer of the Missouri Corn Growers Association as secretary-treasurer. Dylan Rosier of the Missouri Corn Merchandizing Council and Greg Alber of the Iowa Corn Growers Association join as at-large directors, while new sector directors are Sean Broderick (agribusiness), Jolene Riessen (corn), and Matthew Horlacher (barley).

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for American barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union.