03/03/08 Northwest growers attend Commodity Classic

March 3, 2008 Some wheat and barley growers from Idaho, Oregon and Washington were among the over four-thousand people who attended the Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tennessee, which wrapped up over the weekend. Southeast Washington grower Pip Ausman, who won a trip to the event at last fall's Pacific Northwest Grains Conference, was impressed with the gigantic trade show and its 800 plus exhibit booths. Ausman: "This is unbelievable. There is so much technology. The guidance systems, the fertilizer, the chemical companies, they really make a presence." This is the second year the National Association of Wheat Growers has participated in the Commodity Classic, which initially was a joint meeting of corn and soybean organizations. Oregon grower and now NAWG 1st Vice President Karl Scronce, faced a challenge many a Classic attendee did at the nearly three-thousand room Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Scronce: "My first-time in Nashville. Boy this Gaylord Opryland is just awesome. I need a map. I'm lost. I am enjoying my time spent here." The National Association of Wheat Growers had committee meetings and a board meeting but as Idaho Grain Producers Association President Matt Gellings pointed out, when your in Nashville there is one place you just have to go. Gellings: "Hopefully here after these meetings we are going to go to the Grand Ole Opry and hopefully you will join us." Next year's Commodity Classic will also include the National Sorghum Growers and will be February 26 through the 28th in Grapevine, Texas near Dallas. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.