SANILAC COUNTY, Mich. (RFD-TV) — The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has new leadership, and its new leader is no stranger to the fields, raising corn, soybeans, and sugar beets on his farm in Michigan.
Matt Frostic is a fifth-generation farmer who grew up on his family’s farm in Sanilac County.
Frostic Farms Inc. was incorporated in 2008, but the family farm has operated for generations.
He farms about 1,000 crop acres, and also raises 300 to 400 head of beef cattle for feed each year. Along with corn, soybeans, and sugar beets, the farm sometimes grows dry edible beans.
He earned a degree in public administration and policy and has combined his interest in farming with agricultural policy work.
Frostic began his involvement with Farm Bureau before an opportunity to serve with Michigan Corn opened the door to deeper policy work.
He said he initially did not feel qualified to serve on the NCGA board, but encouragement from other leaders prompted him to pursue a national-level role.
“It’s grassroots. The funding comes from the state level and goes to national. But the national level, it’s like a collective organization that brings all those problems and ideas together,” Frostic said.
NCGA has more than 36,000 dues-paying members across 48 states, representing more than half a million U.S. corn farmers. It brings together state organizations to address shared challenges and exchange ideas across the corn industry.
Frostic takes on the role as the association works on several key issues, including expanding E15 availability, farm bill and trade issues, and developing new uses for corn through areas such as sustainable aviation fuel and bioplastics.
He said serving the industry also gives him the opportunity to bring connections, communications, ideas, and a broader understanding of the industry back to his own farm.
For Frostic, the work is about more than immediate benefits to his operation. It is also about helping create opportunities for future generations.
He said one of his biggest goals is to pass the farm down to the next generation and give his children and grandchildren the opportunity to continue farming.
LEARN MORE: www.ncga.com
