Tennessee Corn Promotion Board Hosts Summer Meeting and Elects New Leadership
Tennessee Corn Promotion Board (Not pictured: Tracy Vannatta and Kyle Owen)
The Tennessee Corn Promotion Board (TCPB) recently held its summer meeting, bringing together board members and guest speakers to discuss ongoing and future efforts to support corn checkoff investments and strengthen the industry.
Featured Speakers
Ellen Zimmerman & Will Margerum – U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council (USGBC)
Will Margerum, Manager of Communications, and Ellen Zimmerman, Director of Industry Relations, provided updates on recent USGBC programming successes and discussed upcoming opportunities for collaboration and funding. Their presentation highlighted the value of strategic partnerships to advance corn-related initiatives.
Ben Lawler - Clemson University
Ben Lawler shared progress on a research project focused on ethanol-fueled agricultural equipment. Conducted in partnership with John Deere, the study aims to develop an ethanol-powered engine specifically for farm use—supporting sustainability and increasing demand for corn-based fuel. The team has begun testing a 6.8L engine and initiated computer simulations of ethanol combustion. Funding from state corn boards has been instrumental in procuring components and developing the testing infrastructure.
Laura Knoth – Kentucky Corn
Bradley Schad – Missouri Corn
Laura Knoth and Bradley Schad shared insights into market development efforts underway in their respective states. Their presentations provided a valuable perspective on how neighboring states are working to drive corn demand. The Board appreciated the opportunity to learn from these efforts and explore potential strategies for Tennessee.
TCPB Business Meeting Highlights
The TCPB welcomed three new board members, Corbin Neas (Cocke County) and Robert Thompson (McMinn County), and Jonathan Tosh (Henry County). With their addition, the board has full statewide representation from East, Middle, and West Tennessee.
Board Elections
Board elections were also held, with current officers re-elected to continue in their roles:
John Townsend – Chairman
Shane Burchfiel – Vice Chairman
Kim Sellers – Secretary/Treasurer
They will serve alongside returning members Tracy Vannatta (Bedford County) and Kyle Owen (Smith County).
Thank you to all who attended and contributed to a productive and successful summer meeting. Your continued support and collaboration are vital to the future of Tennessee corn.