The Van Trump Report

Leading During Difficult Times, Thinking Outside-the-Box, and NEW Investment Ideas with special guest Bryce Wells

Mr. Wells has over 40 years experience in the agriculture industry. He began his career in 1977 with Archer Daniels Midland Company and has worked in trading and executive capacities for numerous grain and trading businesses including DeBruce Grain, The Scoular Company, Peavey Grain, Con Agra, Farmland Industries, and Drexel Burnham Lambert. In these various capacities he has had complete management oversight of exchange operations in both Chicago and Kansas City, North American grain elevator and exporting operations, over 2500 employees, budgeting in excess of $2.0 billion, and assets under management in excess of $1.0 billion.

In 2000 Mr. Wells purchased selected business units from The Scoular Company and through several additional acquisitions founded West Plains Co. He served as CEO until 2012 when he transferred the ownership and operations of 21 grain elevators, a short line railroad, and a truck logistics business to a group of outside investors.

In 2004 Wells acquired Retzlaff Grain Company, a grain and agricultural business founded in 1958. He divested Retzlaff grain handling assets simultaneous with the West Plains transaction. In 2013 Mr. Wells initiated RFG Logistics, and in 2015 started RFG Trucking, RFG Leasing, and RFG Fleetco.

Mr. Wells is a former member and director of the Kansas City Board of Trade, a former director of the National Grain and Feed Dealers Association, a past Chairman of the Country Elevator Committee and has participated as a member of the North American Grain Export Association. Additionally he has worked with groups on risk management and procurement strategies in Morocco, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. He has served as consultant to the U.S. Grains Council, U.S.D.A, the Australian Wheat Board, and McDonald-Pelz an international commodity broker. During 2016 Mr. Wells traveled to Cuba with Transportation Intermediaries Association and transportation executives to survey the newly developed infrastructure at the Port of Mariel and opportunities for in-bound, out-bound, intermodal and logistics related to agricultural products. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Transportation Intermediaries PAC Board of Directors.

A native of Colorado, Mr. Wells graduated from University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. He has served as a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, the High Adventure Chairman for BSA Troop 10, and for over a dozen years served as a leader to senior high youth for summer service trips.

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