Iowa Corn has awarded Curt Jones the 2024 Iowa Corn Walter Goeppinger Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the organization and the state’s corn industry. This annual award, named after Iowa Corn’s founder, honors individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing Iowa’s corn industry.
Jones, whose involvement began at the local level in Clay County in the 1990s, quickly rose through the ranks, eventually serving as chair of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and contributing to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). He is celebrated for his passion for research and strategic vision that helped transform how ICPB approaches research funding.
“Curt’s leadership in targeting specific research markets has set a strong foundation for our ongoing projects and collaborations,” said Iowa Corn representatives.
Among his many achievements, Jones was instrumental in securing funding for sequencing the corn genome and advancing research in nitrogen use efficiency. He also championed the development of new corn-based products like monoethylene glycol (MEG) and propylene glycol (PG), which have opened new markets for Iowa farmers.
The Walter Goeppinger Award, established in 2016, recognizes individuals who embody the legacy of Goeppinger, who founded Iowa Corn in 1957 and played a key role in forming the NCGA and the nation’s first corn checkoff program. With this honor, Iowa Corn celebrates Jones’s decades of commitment and leadership, which have left a lasting impact on Iowa’s corn industry.
