Kansas farmer Gary Millershaski visiting a flour mill in Nigeria. Photo credit: U.S. Wheat Associates.
Gary Millershaski is beginning a one-year term as chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates with a focus on strengthening international relationships and expanding opportunities for U.S. wheat exports through long-term market development.
The Kansas farmer officially assumed the leadership role during the USW Summer Board Meeting in Fargo, North Dakota, where a message he first shared during a 2024 board team visit to South Africa and Nigeria was highlighted as a guiding principle for the organization. Millershaski has said that success in export markets depends on continually learning from customers to build stronger sales opportunities in the future.
His leadership comes as U.S. wheat exports have regained momentum following several years of weather-related production challenges, shifting trade patterns and increased global competition. During the 2025-26 marketing year, U.S. wheat exports increased nearly 15% to 23.7 million metric tons, or about 870.8 million bushels, marking the highest export volume in five years.
USW works with customers in more than 100 countries through overseas offices that provide technical support, market development and customer outreach. Millershaski said maintaining those relationships will remain a priority despite continued challenges facing global wheat markets.
Millershaski farms near Lakin, Kansas, where wheat serves as the foundation of the family's crop rotation. The operation also includes corn, grain sorghum and a cow-calf enterprise. He said wheat residue helps conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds and support long-term sustainability across the farm.
The family operation spans five generations. Millershaski and his wife, Jana, farm alongside their sons, Jeremy and Kyler, while a sixth generation is beginning to show interest through Millershaski's young grandson, Henry.
In addition to farming, Millershaski has spent nearly two decades serving the wheat industry. Since 2007, he has held leadership roles with the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, served as chairman of the Kansas Wheat Commission and completed the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership program.
His work with USW has included trade missions to Mexico, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa and Nigeria. Those visits have focused on meeting with millers, bakers, grain buyers and government officials to strengthen customer confidence in the quality and reliability of U.S. wheat while improving understanding of the challenges facing both producers and overseas customers.
Millershaski also recently completed the Bayer Leadership Program, a partnership between Bayer CropScience and the National Wheat Foundation designed to prepare future leaders for state and national wheat organizations. The program covers governance, advocacy, media relations and board leadership while encouraging collaboration among participants.
As USW chairman, Millershaski said learning from customers and building lasting partnerships will remain central to the organization's mission. He believes understanding customer needs today will help strengthen export markets and create opportunities for future generations of U.S. wheat producers.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates, "From Kansas Fields to Global Markets: Millershaski Brings Perspective to U.S. Wheat Leadership"