TOLEDO, Ohio — Transportation Go! will dock at the Great Lakes in March to tackle timely issues and explore opportunities for agricultural transportation. The third-annual conference, hosted by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), takes place March 13-14 at the Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel in Toledo, Ohio.
“It’s very important for farmers here in my state to learn more about how we move our products,” said Mike Ralph, a director with the Ohio Soybean Council, a leading Transportation Go! sponsor. “Transportation Go! is a great event to sponsor and learn more about how to open up new markets, and we’re happy to have it in Ohio this year.”
Transportation Go! is the premier conference for agricultural transportation and trade in the Midwest. Through a robust agenda featuring high-level speakers, attendees will discuss challenges and opportunities for agricultural freight moved on intermodal, rail and ocean lanes.
“We’re excited to bring Transportation Go! to the Buckeye State and drill down on issues that are of utmost concern to our members and industry partners,” said SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg, who will open the conference alongside Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. “We set a high standard with our first two conferences and hope to raise the bar again this year in Toledo.”
Max Vekich from the Federal Maritime Commission and Michelle Schultz of the Surface Transportation Board are participating on a panel discussion about finding solutions from rail to sea. Hardy Pearson from Hapag-Lloyd AG, a leading global liner shipping company, will speak about ocean carrier opportunities. Peter Hirthe of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Coordination will moderate a panel of leaders from Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway ports. Gary Williams, SSGA’s manager of strategic programs, will employ his vast experience in transportation to forecast the 10-year outlook on trade.
“There’s no crystal ball, but it’s a great conversation starter to be able to talk about where we think transportation is going to be 10 years from now,” said Williams, who is helping to lead SSGA’s U.S. Identity Preserved program. “There are a lot of issue that have to be navigated, and those will have a pretty big impact on what the big picture looks like a decade from now.”
The conference will conclude with tours of the ports of Toledo (Thursday at 3:30 p.m.) and Monroe (Friday at 8:30). Click here to view the full Transportation Go! agenda.
After a successful event in Omaha, Nebraska, in March 2023, Transportation Go! is making its much-anticipated return to the Great Lakes area. Transportation Go! was held in Milwaukee in 2022, following the inaugural event, known then as the Northern Commodity Transportation Conference, that took place in 2020 in Minnesota.
“Having attended the 2022 conference in Milwaukee, it is fitting that the conference returns to the Great Lakes, in the port city of Toledo, where transportation, manufacturing and agriculture converge in support of our regional and national economies,” said Joseph Cappel, vice president of business development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “Attendees should come prepared to learn and explore as they experience a revitalized Toledo offering fantastic dining and entertainment throughout the city that will surely make for a unique and enjoyable visit.”
Registration remains available at www.transportationgo.com/register-now/. Conference organizers recommend flying into Detroit (DTW) and taking ground transportation to Toledo (about 50 miles). A concierge service is available for those needing transportation from the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) to Toledo for an extra $95 per person.
SSGA’s annual meeting will be held in the same location on March 12. The annual meeting will reflect on the successes from the past year and celebrate SSGA’s five-year anniversary. Board of Directors elections will be held, and the annual SSGA Alliance Honors will be presented at the meeting. The annual meeting is free for members, but pre-registration is requested. Non-members can register for $55.
Several organizations, including the Ohio Soybean Council, Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), North Dakota Soybean Council, Illinois Soybean Association, South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Port of Toledo, U.S. Identity Preserved and Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation have already committed to sponsoring the event. SSGA is also grateful to Destination Toledo for its enthusiasm for and assistance in hosting Transportation Go!
“I’m looking forward to learning more about, No. 1, what are the transportation options that we have, along with the transportation obstacles?” said Minnesota farmer Gail Donkers, who sits on SSGA’s board. “Transportation Go! is a great event for our organization to team up with fellow state soybean boards to support.”
Sponsorship information is available at transportationgo.com/sponsors/.
About the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance
The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance is the business alliance of identity preserved agriculture in the United States. SSGA is the leading voice for the industry that delivers traceable, high-quality, variety-specific field crops to food markets worldwide. Its members include producers, processors, suppliers and transportation allies whose work ensures integrity throughout the supply chain.
— Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance