U.S. Grains Council reports:

A Nebraska biology teacher inspired youth to dream big and be willing to pay the price to make those dreams come true. But he soon realized his knowledge of science and unwavering passion for people was calling him to other responsibilities.

Ken Hobbie's intelligence and enthusiasm brought him to what was formerly the U.S. Feed Grains Council in 1976, serving first as the director of market development programs and then as the regional director for Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union from 1979-1983.

"During his tenure in Eastern Europe he helped reshape the region's livestock industries, equipping them with the technology and skills needed to modernize their production practices and affording them the ability to feed the hungry safe and affordable food," said Dale Artho, USGC chairman.

"Despite the region's communist control at the time, Hobbie was one of the few allowed to work directly with the private farming sector in many of the former communist countries."

Twenty-five years later, Hobbie is still serving as an instrumental advocate of free trade and expanding the use of biotechnology to effectively feed a growing world and strengthen the livelihoods of U.S. farmers.

Hobbie will continue in the capacity of president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council, which he has held for 17 years, until his contract expires on January 31, 2009.

During those 17 years he also served as a trade policy advisor for the U.S. government. Hobbie facilitated the introduction of distiller's dried grains with solubles, a co-product of ethanol, to world markets and educated international biotechnology regulators. He also oversaw market expansion in Cuba, Egypt, North Africa, Vietnam and several Latin American countries.

Specifically in Egypt, he was one of several driving forces behind the expansion of feedlots designed to finish the bull calves produced by dairy water buffalo for meat. According to Dr. Akila Saleh of Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture's Regional Center for Food and Feed, the Council stepped in under Hobbie's direction and conducted extensive educational seminars to equip the Egyptian feedlot operators with the know-how to effectively feed these animals for consumer consumption. The result was more abundant food at a lower price, which contributed to the improved diets for Egypt's citizens.

"As a man of vision, he recognized that Egypt has great potential to produce affordable animal protein sources for its poor population through modernizing its primitive livestock industries," said Saleh, looking back on Hobbie's first visit to Egypt in the early 1990s.

"He also knew this would increase the imports of cheap corn instead of higher quality corn. He made a courageous decision to provide the Central Laboratory for Food and Feed, which is the grain and feed inspection station in Egypt, with two grain inspection labs to harmonize Egyptian grain standards with those in the United States. This eliminated unfounded quality complaints and eased the flow of U.S. corn to Egypt during this same period."

Artho said the efforts orchestrated under Hobbie's leadership are many and have not only benefited international customers and consumers but also U.S. farmers. "As lives are being improved outside U.S. borders, U.S. farmers are seeing growing demand for their feed grains as a result of the efforts of the U.S. Grains Council under the leadership of Ken Hobbie," said Artho, adding that according to Informa Economics, the Council generates about $591.7 million for producers annually.

"Lives are being improved, markets are being developed and trade barriers are being reduced for U.S. grains around the globe as a result of Mr. Hobbie's leadership at the U.S. Grains Council. This year we witnessed exports exceeding the 1979-1980 record.

"I am not looking forward to his departure from the Council's office, but I know he will be there to assist us in the future...that is just who he is. His leadership, expertise and passion have benefited U.S. agriculture for more than 30 years and will be missed by U.S. barley, corn and sorghum producers."