The delegates of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) elected Verity Ulibarri of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) as chairwoman of its USGC Board of Directors at its 64th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“I feel this industry – farming, in particular; getting your hands dirty, praying for favorable weather, and managing and mitigating hazards while having extreme amounts of capital at risk and hoping for the best to build a brighter future- it’s a higher calling,” Ulibarri said. “When you answer that calling, you have a responsibility to make a difference – not just for yourself, but for an entire sector, community and industry – but ultimately for your family and our future generations.”

Ulibarri operates a family farm in Grady, New Mexico, producing sorghum, wheat, forage crops and cattle while also working as the agribusiness relationship manager at American AgCredit. Ulibarri has served on the Council’s Board of Directors since 2020 and previously served as the chairwoman for USCP in 2020.

In addition to Ulibarri, the delegates elected Mark Wilson of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board as vice chairman and Jay Reiners of the Nebraska Corn Board as secretary-treasurer. Jennie Schmidt of the Maryland Grains Producer Utilization Board and Curt Mether of Iowa Corn Growers Association were also elected as at-large directors.

Ulibarri outlined her objectives for the year and introduced her theme as Chairwoman: ‘Cultivate the Future.’ She emphasized, “In my experience with the Council, we never have issues challenging the status quo – we push through existing boundaries and increase market share so that we build on what we have now and exceed current expectations – and I encourage each of you to continue that path forward.”