11. Applying a Military Strategic Mindset to the Corn Demand Dilemma, with Col. Mark Purdy

Even before the onset of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, this had been a tough decade for corn growers. It turns out our members have gotten REALLY GOOD at growing corn, and demand just hasn’t kept up with supply. NCGA’s efforts to spur corn demand have made great strides toward big-picture, far-horizon initiatives that will grow corn consumption in the future. But with the extra hit to corn demand posed by the pandemic, farmers could use a little extra help this harvest season. And so the NCGA is partnering with Aimpoint Research, a strategic consulting firm that specializes in applying a military tactical mindset to solving business problems. In this episode, Jon discusses the issues with Aimpoint Senior Vice President Mark Purdy, a former Army Colonel who graduated from West Point Academy. He served as Director of War Games at the U.S. Army War College, and his experience ranges from leading combat units to managing multi-billion dollar security assistance portfolios. He traces his roots back to a family farm in Ohio where he grew up raising sheep, corn soybeans and hay. They’re also joined by Jim Bauman, NCGA’s Vice President of Market Development.