Commodity Classic has announced that Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer will speak during the General Session on Friday, Feb. 29 in Nashville, Tenn.

Commodity Classic is the combined convention and trade show of the American Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG).

The General Session runs from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. and will include a roundtable discussion with emcee, U.S. Farm Journal Report host John Phipps and the commodity presidents, an address by noted political analyst Charlie Cook, and entertainment by guitarist Mike Rayburn.

“We appreciate the secretary taking time to meet with soybean, corn and wheat growers in Nashville, said ASA President John Hoffman. “This is a great opportunity for him to get to know us, and for us to get to know him.”

NCGA President Ron Litterer, said, “We’re excited to have Secretary Schafer attend and address the thousands of growers at the event. His attendance demonstrates his strong level of commitment to the agricultural community.”

“I'm glad the secretary can make it out to Nashville to talk with commodity producers,” said John Thaemert, NAWG president. “We will be very interested to hear his perspective on agriculture and progress on the farm bill.”

As governor of North Dakota, Schafer led an agricultural trade mission to China in 2000 to help open new markets for North Dakota farm products. He was also co-founder and co-chair of the Governors Biotechnology Partnership, established in 2000. This partnership was founded to increase public understanding and support for the benefits of agricultural biotechnology. Additionally, he oversaw initial development of North Dakota's biofuel industries.