02/22/06 Governor`s Award Winner, Mendenhall

Bill Mendenhall of AgriSource is a Governor's award winner for marketing innovation. Several years ago Mendenhall offered Idaho wheat to Mexican millers. MENDENHALL "Guerrimo for William and Mendes. So I have been adopted as Guerrimo Mendes de Ochoa, as my actual Spanish name down there." Mexican millers paid a half million dollars for 25 box cars of Idaho wheat which they blend with their own supplies to make superior breads and pastries. MENDENHALL "We were the ones who decided that we were going to go identity preserved wheat. We're going to segregate it and we're going to call up the people we sell to who trust us and we're going to send them samples and they're going to see it. In fact I gave a talk and lecture in Portland, Oregon to some exporters and others dealers almost 20 years ago. I mean they're faces were blank and they're going 'this will never work.' So we stayed with it and over the last 15 years we've actually put Idaho on the map for quality wheat." Bill Mendenhall, marketing pioneer and winner of this year's Governor's award for marketing innovation. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott