The Way I See It
October 3, 2007
BY Mike Bryan
What an amazing industry! The ethanol industry has continued to astound us for well over two decades. The resiliency that it has demonstrated is second to none.
When ethanol was all but a dirty word within the oil industry, ethanol supporters pressed on, frustrated perhaps, but undaunted nonetheless. Farmers all across the United States stepped up to the plate, taking their message to Washington, D.C. I know because while I was employed by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), I led a number of groups through the halls of Congress for meetings with their congressmen and senators. The NCGA put the muscle of its 30,000-plus members to work, stressing the importance of ethanol and American agriculture to state and federal legislators.
While I don't want to appear overly nostalgic, I remember corn farmers in communities from Minnesota to North Carolina working self-serve gas stations while doing yellow nickel promotions. These promotions had corn farmers pumping the gas and washing the windshields of cars filling with ethanol blends. For every gallon of ethanol-blended gasoline they pumped, they would give the consumer a nickel painted yellow. The idea was to show how the money from ethanol filtered through the community for months and sometimes years following. I know, it sounds corny and I suppose it was, but it worked. It got the message out, and people began to understand the importance of ethanol to American agriculture. I'm going to refrain here from saying those were the good ol' days for fear of showing my overextended tenure in the industry.
Let's face it: There have been few industry success stories in history that can surpass that of the ethanol industry. Think about it: From automobiles to the airline industry and computers, all have faced adversity but none have faced signs that said, "No driving in this state," "No flying here," or "Computers will make you go blind."
This industry has always had the innate ability to know when to put the pressure on, when to back off and when to alter its course. It has grown from an idea presented to Archer Daniels Midland Co. during the Arab oil embargo to a multi-billion dollar industry whose time has come.
As we begin the long transition from a grain-based industry to a cellulose-based industry, we need to stop and remember who carved the path forward. American farmers have been the bulwark of progress for ethanol since its inception, and they will remain the leading force of change in the years ahead. This is an amazing industry, tough and resilient. It has been a wild, often frustrating, exciting, challenging and ever-changing ride. I know that I speak for Kathy Bryan, as well, when I say that we look to the future with as much excitement as we both did two-and-a-half decades ago.
That's the way I see it!
Mike Bryan
Publisher & CEO
mbryan@bbibiofuels.com
When ethanol was all but a dirty word within the oil industry, ethanol supporters pressed on, frustrated perhaps, but undaunted nonetheless. Farmers all across the United States stepped up to the plate, taking their message to Washington, D.C. I know because while I was employed by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), I led a number of groups through the halls of Congress for meetings with their congressmen and senators. The NCGA put the muscle of its 30,000-plus members to work, stressing the importance of ethanol and American agriculture to state and federal legislators.
While I don't want to appear overly nostalgic, I remember corn farmers in communities from Minnesota to North Carolina working self-serve gas stations while doing yellow nickel promotions. These promotions had corn farmers pumping the gas and washing the windshields of cars filling with ethanol blends. For every gallon of ethanol-blended gasoline they pumped, they would give the consumer a nickel painted yellow. The idea was to show how the money from ethanol filtered through the community for months and sometimes years following. I know, it sounds corny and I suppose it was, but it worked. It got the message out, and people began to understand the importance of ethanol to American agriculture. I'm going to refrain here from saying those were the good ol' days for fear of showing my overextended tenure in the industry.
Let's face it: There have been few industry success stories in history that can surpass that of the ethanol industry. Think about it: From automobiles to the airline industry and computers, all have faced adversity but none have faced signs that said, "No driving in this state," "No flying here," or "Computers will make you go blind."
This industry has always had the innate ability to know when to put the pressure on, when to back off and when to alter its course. It has grown from an idea presented to Archer Daniels Midland Co. during the Arab oil embargo to a multi-billion dollar industry whose time has come.
As we begin the long transition from a grain-based industry to a cellulose-based industry, we need to stop and remember who carved the path forward. American farmers have been the bulwark of progress for ethanol since its inception, and they will remain the leading force of change in the years ahead. This is an amazing industry, tough and resilient. It has been a wild, often frustrating, exciting, challenging and ever-changing ride. I know that I speak for Kathy Bryan, as well, when I say that we look to the future with as much excitement as we both did two-and-a-half decades ago.
That's the way I see it!
Mike Bryan
Publisher & CEO
mbryan@bbibiofuels.com
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