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Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds visited Diamond V on Friday, Jan. 17, the second day of a whirlwind tour announcing their bid to seek re-election. A surprise visitor was U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley who joined the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Iowa House District 95 Representative Quentin Stanerson at the Diamond V South Plant in Cedar Rapids.

Branstad and Reynolds were leading the "Building Iowa's Future" Tour, making 14 stops across the state in three days. It was Branstad's second visit to the Diamond V site, where the South Plant and new Headquarters were constructed following the disastrous flood in 2008.

Diamond V President Jeff Cannon welcomed the elected officials and about 50 visitors on the production floor during a brief shutdown of the plant.
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Diamond V President Jeff Cannon welcomes Gov. Branstad (standing left), Lt. Gov. Reynolds, State Representative Quentin Stanerson (standing right), U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, and visitors to the South Plant.

"Diamond V and its employees have called Iowa home since the company's inception in 1943," Cannon said. "For 70 years our company has grown and prospered here in Iowa. The new manufacturing facility we are in today is a result of our global success grounded here in Iowa.

"In the last five years," Cannon said, "Diamond V and our related human nutrition company Embria have invested more than $60 million in Iowa facilities and we are planning an expansion to this facility of an additional $30 million, which is expected to create an additional 20 Iowa jobs in the coming years. All of these investments have created more jobs and more security for our families here in Iowa."

Governor Branstad praised Diamond V's progress and related a story of his growing up on a farm in Winnebago County: "At the end of a long day of work, my dad would say, ‘We didn't get much done, but we will give it heck tomorrow."

Branstad said that same commitment to hard work and focus on the future, together with a commitment to job creation and opportunities for Iowa's families, inspired his intention to seek re-election as governor of Iowa.

"It has been an honor to serve as your governor," Branstad said, "but there is more work to be done. As I visit all 99 Iowa counties, Iowans who tell me their stories, share their dreams and look to the future with hope. I am energized. I am encouraged to dream bigger."

Branstad pledged to continue to work hard to build a brighter future for all Iowans: "A future we can build. A future we must build. A future we will build. Together."

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke on the "mission of leading Iowa's comeback."

Branstad and Reynolds said Iowa's unemployment rate had dropped to the fifth-lowest rate in the nation at 4.4 percent, with the creation of more than 130,000 jobs. They noted that the STEM educational curriculum was preparing Iowa's youth for the jobs of tomorrow in a globally competitive job market.
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Diamond V Production Vice President Mike Goble (second left) explains production of Original XPC to Gov. Branstad (left), Lt. Gov. Reynolds, and U.S. Senator Grassley.

As Governor Branstad concluded his remarks and acknowledged applause from the audience, the production facility's dryer fans started up with a "whoosh." In a departure from his planned itinerary, the Governor requested a tour of the plant. Production Vice President Mike Goble complied and led the dignitaries on a brief tour of the Diamond V Original XPC production process.

About Diamond V

Diamond V, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, is a global nutrition and health company manufacturing all-natural products that improve nutrition, health, and performance in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture. Diamond V connects its unique competencies in microbial-based fermentation with specie-specific expertise and world-class research to create profitable solutions for customers worldwide. For more information, contact Diamond V at 800-373-7234 or www.diamondv.com.
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1.20.2014