San Antonio, Texas – Kansas wheat farmer Paul Penner was elected as the new president of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) at the Association’s Board of Directors meeting Thursday.
“I’m very excited to serve as NAWG president and am looking forward to a productive year. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as president and will work hard to live up to the expectations set forth,” said Penner.
Penner farms near Hillsboro, Kans. where he owns and manages a cash grain farm and serves as treasurer of Risely Township. His principal crops are wheat, soybeans, grain sorghum, corn and grass hay. Paul also operates a custom farming enterprise.
Prior to becoming a NAWG officer, Penner held multiple leadership positions at the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, including serving as the association’s president.
Penner holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics with a concentration in accounting from Tabor College. He is also a graduate of the wheat industry’s two leadership training programs, the Wheat Industry Leaders of Tomorrow program and the Wheat Organization Leaders of the Future program.
Penner and his wife have three adult children and two grandchildren.
Other NAWG officers elected and installed at the Thursday meeting include:
• Brett Blankenship, Washtucna, Wash., as first vice president;
• Gordon Stoner, Outlook, Mont., second vice president;
• David Schemm, Sharon Springs, Kans. secretary-treasurer; and
• Bing Von Bergen, Moccasin, Mont., immediate past president.
Members of NAWG’s Executive Committee, known as officers, commit to serve five years when they first run for the role of secretary-treasurer. The NAWG Nominating Committee and NAWG Board reaffirms their selection each year as they move into new roles on the officer team.
More about all of NAWG’s elected leaders is at www.wheatworld.org/about-us/contact-us/.