Nebraska farmer Jay Reiners has been elected chairman of the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) board of directors. He will begin his term on July 31, 2024, and aims to facilitate international trade for U.S. grains.
Jay Reiners' election to a leadership position within the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council signifies a continued focus on promoting and developing international markets for American agricultural exports, which directly impacts farmer income and the broader agricultural economy.
Jay Reiners, a retired corn and soybean farmer from Juniata, Nebraska, has been elected as the new chairman of the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) board of directors. The election took place during the organization's annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Reiners expressed his honor and commitment to the work of the USGBC, emphasizing its role in facilitating international trade for American grains and bio-products. He highlighted the importance of moving crops to global markets and stated his privilege in taking on a leadership role. Reiners, who grows corn and soybeans with his wife, has a background that includes graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, serving in the Nebraska Army National Guard, and receiving the Aksarben’s Pioneer Farm Award in 1992. He currently serves as the chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board and has held various leadership positions at local, state, and national levels, including within USGBC action teams.
Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director for the Nebraska Corn Board, expressed pleasure at Reiners' election, attributing it to his leadership and passion. Brunkhorst noted the ongoing benefits the USGBC provides to farmers nationwide and celebrated the opportunity to have a Nebraskan leading the organization. Reiners' term as chairman is scheduled to begin on July 31, 2024. He recently visited the USGBC headquarters in Washington, D.C., to meet with staff and discuss priorities for his upcoming tenure.