Photo Essay: Export Exchange 2026 Pre-Teams Visit Growers, Exporters And Logistics Hubs Across The Country

This week, groups of international purchasers and end-users of feed grains and their co-products traveled around the U.S. in advance of the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council's (USGBC's) flagship buyers and sellers event, Export Exchange 2026.

Below are snapshots of the activities of each of these teams with a brief explanation of the many facets of the U.S. grain export value chain to which they witnessed.

Thai feed importers and millers visited Tri-Fecta Farms in Fox Lake, Wis. to learn firsthand from a nutritionist about balanced feed rations for dairy cows, including the role of feeding livestock quality corn and corn co-products to support health, productivity and efficiency.

A team of end-users from the Middle East and Africa kicked off its journey with a boat tour along the Mississippi River, hosted by USGBC member Russell Marine Group. Participants observed several of the river's export grain elevators and gained insights into the logistics of barge and vessel movements.

Attendees, escorted by USGBC Deputy Regional Director for Europe and the Middle East Ana Ballesteros (front, middle) and USGBC Manager of Global Strategies and Trade Samantha Redfern (second from right), also learned about the rigorous grain testing and quality control procedures conducted before shipments reach their export destinations.

USGBC Global Programs Coordinator John Owen (second from left) escorted a delegation of Latin American feed and food industry stakeholders to Kansas to learn about sorghum's applications in livestock diets and human consumption.

A Vietnamese group toured USGBC member ADM's grain elevator in Tennessee for insights into the scale of U.S. feed grain logistics and the safety guidelines in place along the value chain. Pictured with the group is USGBC Deputy Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania Caleb Floss (rear, third from right).

A group of Mexican white corn buyers visited a farm where U.S. white corn is being grown in Illinois to further build their confidence in its quality and establish sourcing connections for future transactions.

A team of corn buyers and end-users from Latin America visited Carson Klosterman's farm in Wyndmere, N.D. to further their understanding of U.S. corn quality, weather impacts and Klosterman's sustainable farming practices.

An Indian and Sri Lankan team visited Winsome Farms in Johnson City, Kan., a multi-generational family farm growing wheat, corn and sorghum, and were hosted by Brant Peterson with Kansas Sorghum, Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and Colorado Sorghum Association. The visit ended with a reception and farewell dinner for the International Grains Program Short Course.

USGBC Senior Global Strategies Coordinator Sam Clemence (leftmost) and USGBC Deputy Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Salah Bouthour (second from left) escorted a team of North African corn and distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) end-users and buyers to a tour at USGBC member Perdue Agribusiness' terminal in Norfolk, Va.

USGBC Manager of Global Ethanol Programs Joana Hassan (front, second from left) and USGBC Deputy Director in Mexico Estefania Perez (front, third from left) led a delegation of Mexican corn procurers to Kansas and Missouri to view U.S. rail logistics hubs and see how U.S. feed grains are transported to Canada and Mexico.

The teams converged in Seattle, Wash. to attend Export Exchange 2026 and extend the experiences and knowledge gained from their visits into business meetings during the conference. Seven additional trade teams will depart for tours after the conference concludes on Saturday, and information and photos from the programs will be made available on the Council's website, social media pages and next week's issue of Global Update.