Summer 2024 Articles

Director’s Cut: A Fresh Vision for Sorghum’s Future

As we launch this editorial addition to Sorghum Grower magazine, I searched for a title that could set my remarks apart from the other extremely talented contributors to this space.

A director’s cut is an edited version that is supposed to represent the director’s own approved edits, in contrast to the editor’s original release. Much like this definition, my goal, and the reason I chose Director’s Cut is to deliver my vision for the National Sorghum Producers and the broader work we are undertaking at Team Sorghum from the view of the Executive Director.

While I have yet to complete my first year with NSP, that date is quickly approaching in early November. My learning curve has been steep but rewarding as I stepped back into association management, a familiar role that has represented nearly 30 years of my professional career. While familiar, the approach at NSP is also different. The association has supported the development of subsidiary organizations designed to make growers more profitable, in addition to being awarded grant funding to gather data and position sorghum for the emerging sustainability and biofuels markets. NSP’s active partnership with the Sorghum Checkoff provides numerous opportunities to share knowledge and expertise from a growing staff across a range of program disciplines.

The diverse uses for sorghum—food, feed, fuel and fiber—reflect the potential sorghum enjoys today and demands a strong and unified response from Team Sorghum—the association, the checkoff, grant projects and subsidiaries.

Rapid program development has created significant staff growth—in employee numbers and the skills and strengths they bring to their new roles. Leadership has actively engaged in strategic planning, staff development and program coordination activities at every level of our organizations to leverage resources and maximize impacts from our limited budgets.

Internally, we refer to this as “punching above our weight class.” Team Sorghum has a history of successfully influencing outcomes that benefit the industry, but the diversification of programs outlined above has expanded that influence exponentially. This issue of the magazine is a good example of punching above our weight class.

I look forward to regular contributions to the magazine, and I hope you do as well. I am also available between issues by email at greg@sorghumgrowers.com or by phone at 620-253-3137.