National Sorghum Producers Builds Connections Across South Dakota
National Sorghum Producers took its producer engagement and market-development work on the road during a three-day visit to South Dakota.
NSP Chair Amy France, Legislative Director Elissa Gilliam and Measurement & Verification Director Brandt Underwood visited multiple farms in South Dakota. The team met with the Van Zee family, including longtime sorghum producers Jerry and Buck Van Zee of Van Zee Ranch & Feedlot near Platte; David and Dylan Knoll; and Adam Schindler near Reliance.
Schindler operates a large, diversified grain and cattle operation. He currently serves on NSP’s Legislative Committee and as the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council’s sorghum sector director and an Asia Advisory Team board liaison. His involvement brings an active producer perspective to both national policy and international market-development efforts.
The team’s itinerary also included meetings with Bunge and NuGen Energy. These conversations provided an opportunity to discuss local demand, marketing conditions and additional opportunities for South Dakota sorghum.
Across farm visits, buyer meetings and the summit stage, the trip illustrated membership at work by listening directly to producers, strengthening industry relationships and carrying sorghum’s story into important trade conversations.
Courtesy photo.
Courtesy photo.
Amy France Represents Sorghum at Midwest Agricultural Export Summit
France concluded the trip Aug. 12, 2026, by representing U.S. sorghum at the sixth annual Midwest Agricultural Export Summit in Sioux Falls. This year’s theme was “Forging Forward: New Markets, More Sales.”
France participated in the expert panel “Collaborating Across Agriculture for Global Growth.” She joined Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council; Jim Sutter, president and CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council; Dr. Dusty Oedekoven, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board; and Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Dr. William Snell of the University of Kentucky moderated the discussion.
The panel explored emerging export markets, current trade challenges, cross-commodity collaboration and the policies and programs needed to keep U.S. agriculture competitive. France brought the sorghum producer perspective to a high-level conversation about growing international demand and building dependable, long-term markets.
(Right): Amy France.
Courtesy photo.
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