Chris Schmidt Auburn, Michigan Heart of the Saginaw Valley

 Born in  Raised on 100 acre Centennial Farm by 3 rd generation parents.  Mom (still kickin) was a school teacher, Dad (kicked it) was a pipefitter and part time dairy/cash crop farmer.  2 brothers (1 still alive) and 1 sister.  BSME from Michigan Technological University ’80.  Worked in industry ever since.  Started seed business in  Married Debbie (Auburn girl) Acquired Matt in the process.

 Expanded farm to 650+ acres plus half a dozen contract growers.  >90% value added markets.  Seed oats  Race horse oats  Stove corn  Edible beans  Soybean seed (GMO & non-GMO)  Wheat seed (SWW & SRW)  Served 9 years on board of Michigan Crop Improvement Association – 3 as president.  Presently serving on the newly formed Michigan Wheat Program as secretary.

 Michigan Ag Output = $7.26 billion  Crops = $4.02 billion  Wheat = $199 million  55,000 farms  10 million acres  Avg size = 182 acres  95% are family or individually owned  Saginaw Bay Region:  $269 million  300,000 acres

Auburn Pentwater

 Expanding value added markets  Controlling value added markets  SWW genetics  Availability (present)  Pipeline (future)

 Build lasting relationships with those attending/presenting/facilitating  Gain insight on future direction of wheat industry – as applied nationally as well as locally  Develop skills and confidence to articulate future direction of wheat industry  Not loose any weight