Agri-Business Roundtable

Jim Schwartz from iCorn Encouraged by Ethanol

2006-03-21T10:43:00.000-05:00

As the vice president of development for iCorn, Jim Schwartz predicts that the trend toward alternative fuel will be a boost for the heartland. He feels that in the past the agriculture industry was fragmented, but now the state has a plan, that includes ethanol, that will weave it all together.

Eric Gloe of Clabber Girl Sets Goals for Central American Trade

2006-03-08T21:29:00.000-05:00

We at the Clabber Girl Corporation were very pleased to be invited to attend the agri-business discussion sponsored by Ice Miller. Having recently returned from the trade delegation to Central America led by Congressman Burton and Lt. Governor Skillman, we have numerous new opportunities to follow up on and develop. The roundtable provided an excellent format to share ideas on agricultural business with prominent leaders from other companies, businesses and agricultural segments in Indiana. Some new friends from the Indiana Department of Agriculture were there as well. The trade delegation in early January proved to be a valuable trip which put us in touch with customers in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama who are anxious to begin business with the United States. Especially now that the CAFTA -DR free trade agreement has moved forward. The trip also put us in contact with several members of the USDA and Foreign Agricultural Service based in each of those countries. Those contacts have also proven to be very helpful. Currently I am on a follow up trip to Central America and I have used my contacts made on the delegation to assist me in delivering samples and literature here for my sales calls. As of yesterday, I wrote my initial order for new business in Guatemala!

All in all, the roundtable gave us the opportunity to meet and discuss ideas with people and organizations in the same type of business that we are in. It also helped to expand awareness of our company, the Clabber Girl Corporation based in Terre Haute, IN., as to what we produce, how we are growing, our future plans and potential synergies with other Indiana companies. Finally and equally as important, the contacts with the other delegation members as well as the business professionals in attendance at the roundtable will provide new potential in the future to work with these businesses in Indiana.

Eric Gloe
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Clabber Girl Corporation

Steve Smith's View on International Agri-Business

2006-03-06T13:39:00.000-05:00

Steve Smith, director of agriculture for Red Gold, discusses the impact of the trade delegation from Indiana to Central America. He is encouraged about the opportunities for trade that exist for Indiana agri-businesses.

Ron Meeusen on Indiana's Agri-Business Opportunities

2006-02-27T11:31:00.000-05:00

Ron Meeusen, partner IN Fund, talks about how Indiana is beginning to act as a State in their pursuit of agri-business. He sees a great opportunity for Indiana to move from being passive to becoming thought leaders as agri-business becomes more dynamic and expands more easily into a global economy.

Beth Bechdol on the State's Plan For Agriculture

2006-02-21T11:00:00.000-05:00

Beth Bechdol, deputy director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture discusses the importance of the agriculture business to the State of Indiana. View the video below to hear Beth describe the aspects of the department's strategic plan and her vision for agriculture in Indiana.

Click on the image below to view the video.