AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025
06:40 Depart for Golf Tournament
Sponsored by Washington Grain Commission, Oregon Wheat
Commission & Idaho Wheat Commission
07:40 Golf Tournament
Location: Legend Danang Golf Resort
16:00 Conference Registration
Location: Outside Lotus Ballroom
17:30 Speakers Meeting
Location: Outside Lotus Ballroom
18:00 Networking Reception
Location: Lawn Area
Attire: Casual
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025
Attire: Business
8:00 Conference Registration
Outside Lotus Ballroom
General Session
Location: Lotus 1, 2
09:00 Opening and Welcome
Steve Wirsching, Vice President and West Coast Office Director, U.S. Wheat Associates
Wheat and Market Outlook
09:15 Outlook for U.S. Wheat Farmers
Clark Hamilton, USW Chairman and Idaho Wheat Grower
09:35 Economic Situation and Consideration
for North Asia
Ken Eriksen, Senior Leader and Strategic Advisor, Polaris Analytics and Consulting
10:20 COFFEE BREAK
10:50 Global Wheat Supply & Demand Situation
Joe Sowers, Regional Vice President, South and Southeast Asia, U.S. Wheat
Associates
11:25 A Treasured Partnership
Vince Peterson, President and CEO, U.S. Wheat Associates
12:00 LUNCH
Epice Restaurant
North Asia Regional Updates
13:15 Japan’s Wheat Market
Rick Nakano, Country Director, U.S. Wheat Associates
Masaru Iijima, Director for Grain Trading Team, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (MAFF)
Takaya Kuji, General Manager, Food Business Department, Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
13:45 South Korea’s Wheat Market
Channy Bae, Country Director, U.S. Wheat Associates
In-Suk Song, Chairman, Korea Flour Mills Industrial Association
Sae-Hoon Youk, Procurement Manager, Sajodongaone Co., Ltd.
14:15 Taiwan’s Wheat Market
Yi-I Huang, Country Director, U.S. Wheat Associates
Jyh-Ming Chang, Taiwan Flour Millers Association
Yi-Hong Chen, Deputy Director, CGPRDI
14:45 COFFEE BREAK
15:15 U.S. Wheat Class Update Panel
Moderator: Steve Mercer, Vice President of Communications, U.S. Wheat Associates
Casey Chumrau, CEO, Washington Grain Commission
Justin Gilpin, CEO, Kansas Wheat Commission
Jim Pellman, USW Vice Chairman and North Dakota Wheat Grower
Amanda Hoey, CEO, Oregon Wheat Commission
Britany Marchant, Executive Director, Idaho Wheat Commission
16:15 Closing Q&A (Pigeonhole)
16:30 Adjourn
Evening open for personal arrangements.
FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025
General Session
Location: Lotus 1, 2
09:00 Opening and Welcome
Joe Bippert, Assistant Regional Director – South and Southeast Asia, U.S. Wheat Associates
Transportation and Geopolitics
9:10 U.S. Transportation Situation Update
Ken Eriksen, Senior Leader and Strategic Advisor, Polaris Analytics and Consulting
9:45 World Ocean Freight Market
Chan-Hyun Yang, Senior Vice President, Pan Ocean Co. Ltd.
10:15 COFFEE BREAK
10:45 U.S. Grain Merchandiser Panel
Moderator: Candace Roper, Chief Representative, CoBank
Brian Liedl, Director of Merchandising, United Grain Corporation
Kurt Haarmann, Chief Commercial Officer, Columbia Grain International
Jordan Van Zante, Senior Merchandiser, Pacificor LLC
11:35 Grain and Oilseeds Update
Wei-Jun Chua, Analyst – Biofuels Analytics, S&P Global
12:05 LUNCH
Epice Restaurant
Technical Presentations
13:30 US Wheat Innovations
Justin Gilpin, CEO, Kansas Wheat Commission
14:00 Positioning Wheat Proteins for the Future
Dr. Senay Simsek, Professor and Department Head, Deans Chair in Food Science, Purdue University
14:40 COFFEE BREAK
15:10 Market Changes and Future Predictions for Flour Millers
Shawn Thiele, Associate Director and Flour Milling Specialist, IGP Institute
15:40 Continuous Improvement in U.S. Wheat’s Environmental Impact
Steve Mercer, Vice President of Communications, U.S. Wheat Associates
16:05 Question and Answer Session
Closing Remarks
Participant Survey
16:30 Adjourn
18:00 Farewell Dinner
Beach Lawn