Washington, D.C. – Thirty-eight years ago, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Glenn Moore was nearing the end of his tenure when he realized that the way to ensure NAWG’s continuing influence as a commodity organization in Washington, D.C. was to purchase a building and build NAWG’s visibility.
This week, NAWG and the National Wheat Foundation (NWF) celebrate the paying off of the mortgage on the building purchased nearly forty years ago. Moore’s inspiring vision for the future of NAWG and NWF led to the investment in the building, and his huge bargain has manifested itself in wheat’s stable position as the third largest commodity in the country with an ambitious and active agenda.
“This was an historic week for the National Wheat Foundation and National Association of Wheat Growers. Nearly forty years ago, Glen Moore had the vision for the future of the wheat industry, which included solidifying a presence on Capitol Hill,” said NWF Chairman Phil McLain. “It was an honor to be joined by him this week during our Foundation’s board meeting and to hear about important history of NAWG and the Wheat building.”
At the end of President Moore’s time with NAWG in 1978, his priority was to increase NAWG’s public presence with a permanent home in the city, and after consulting with the state organizations, and some minor setbacks, NAWG and NWF settled on 2nd Street in Capitol Hill to continue their advocacy work for wheat growers across the country.
With the Foundation newly created, a project was needed to bolster public attention for the new organization, and they began working with universities and private industries to promote and continue important research for wheat. With DuPont, Union Carbide, and the Rockefeller Foundation involved in the National Wheat Foundation’s agenda, NAWG and NWF were considered to be the most influential commodity organization in Washington, D.C. Their work is now continued in the areas of trade policy, environmental regulation, research and technology, and the industry projects of the National Wheat Foundation. With the backing of the National Wheat Foundation, NAWG is positioning itself to go into the creation of the next Farm Bill with the needs and priorities of U.S. wheat growers at the forefront of its drive to protect wheat growers and provide them with the tools to continue wheat’s legacy as an influential and successful commodity.