Suess tabbed to head national wheat board

Steptoe area Randy Suess was named chairman of the board of directors of U.S. Wheat Associates at the organization’s board meeting Monday in Tulsa.

The position will primarily require Suess to travel overseas to sell users wheat grown in the United States.

Rising food prices have caused many global buyers to seek out suppliers with the lowest prices. While transportation costs often increase the cost of U.S. wheat, Suess said buyers prefer the stability of the American product.

“Sometimes, there’s cheaper wheat in the world than what we’ve got,” said Suess. “But we really hang our hat on quality and reliability.”

Most of the wheat grown on the Palouse ends up in foreign markets. About 90 percent of wheat from eastern Washington is shipped to countries in Asia and South America. He estimated about half of the wheat grown elsewhere in the country is sold domestically.

The region’s primary soft white wheat crop, however, is more desirable to noodle and pastry makers overseas.

Suess will also be responsible for running the organization’s three meetings over the next year. The chairman hosts U.S. Wheat’s annual meeting. Suess said he will host the meeting at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, but has planned tours of the Palouse, the lower Snake River and Washington State University.

Suess grows wheat and peas on his family’s farm near Steptoe.

He also represents Whitman County on the Washington Wheat Commission and serves on advisory boards for Washington State University’s college of agriculture.

U.S. Wheat Associates maintains offices around the world to market wheat grown by American farmers to millers and bakers in foreign countries.

Suess taught junior high and was principal, superintendent and coach at the Steptoe School before he returned to the farm 19 years ago.

He has served as past president of the Whitman County Association of Wheat Growers and as past president of the PNW Farmers’ Cooperative.

He and his wife, Laurie, who works for the McGregor Co., have two adult children, Brian and Emilie.