Our Company
Sensing revolutionary changes coming in agriculture, Blue Reef Agri-Marketing Inc.’s principals, Chip Nellinger and Adam Dryer partnered with a goal of advising an elite group of producers on innovative risk management strategies. Forward, outside the box thinking can often create competitive advantages. Thus the concept of using outside the box strategizing to swim out of the turbulent water to the calm water of the “Blue Reef”.
As rapid global changes have increased price and input volatility, huge revenue variances have emerged in agriculture, forcing more of a focus on protecting profit margins with risk management strategies. Today’s operation faces risk not just from fluctuating commodity prices, but also input prices, yield variance, and other factors like interest rates, foreign currency fluctuations and even political uncertainty. Progressive operations are more frequently attempting to bring risk management in-house but lack the expertise due to the growing complexity of global markets. Backed by years of cash commodity trading and futures industry experience, the team at Blue Reef Agri-Marketing, Inc. is well positioned to offer hands-on advice to help producers thrive in today’s competitive business environment.
Our Team
Chip Nellinger
Risk Management Consultant & Cash Grain SpecialistChip draws on 25 yrs. of experience in the markets in helping farmer’s manage risk. Chip has held a Series 3 Commodity Broker license for the past 22 years with previous experience including having worked for 4 years on the floor of the CBOT for 2 exchange members in assisting large international grain accounts implement hedging strategies. Chip’s experience growing up on a family farm in Bureau County, IL provides a strong foundation in understanding the challenges of today’s farming operation and that continues today with his involvement in marketing decisions as a land owner himself.
Chip serves as a commodity analyst on U.S. Farm Report, Ag Day, RFDTV’s Market Day Report as well as on radio with WILL, WNAX and Rural Radio Sirius 147.
Chip holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics from Northern Illinois University. Chip and his wife Jennifer have 3 sons and reside in Dunlap, IL.
Adam Dryer
Risk Management Consultant & Cash Grain SpecialistAdam has extensive experience in grain merchandising, basis, carry & spreads, having worked for 4 years for Archer Daniels Midland Co. He previously managed a 7 million bushel grain terminal in Indiana and has been a licensed commodity broker since 2008. Adam and Chip started Blue Reef Agri-Marketing in 2010 with a goal of making a difference in farmer’s lives.
Adam holds an Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agricultural Leadership from the University of Illinois in Champaign. He is active in the show cattle circuit, judging multiple shows each summer and winter. Adam, his wife Whitney & 2 daughters reside in Carlock, IL and regularly make it back to their family’s grain and livestock farms in central Illinois.
Scott Dryer
Risk Management Consultant & Grain and Livestock SpecialistScott began the livestock division of Blue Reef in 2013. He became a “Partner owner” in Blue Reef in 2018 and currently manages our office in Granbury, TX. Scott comes to Blue Reef with a broad background in both the grain and cattle industries. Previously he has worked for Tyson in Carcass Sales, Dakota City NE. He was with Cargill for 4 years, helping producers on Cargill’s Risk Management Solutions. Also, Scott managed a grain elevator for Tate and Lyle for 3 years. Through this he has worked in all three terminals; truck house, train terminal, and river terminal.
Scott has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Education Leadership from the University of Illinois. Scott was a member of the collegiate Livestock Judging Teams at Black Hawk East and U of I. He has also coached the Illinois National 4-H Livestock Judging team. He is passionate about the cattle industry and very much enjoys working with today’s premier producers as well as youth 4-H and FFA on their livestock. Scott, his wife and three kids live in Tolar, TX where they maintain a small cow herd of their own.
Arron Benoit
Risk Managment ConsultantAaron has been working in the grain markets for over 10 years as a commodity broker. He previously worked for Soy Capital Bank &Trust as a farm manager where he managed over 7,000 acres in northern IL. In addition, Aaron has experience in farmland real estate and maintains his real estate license.
Aaron graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He is passionate about the markets and strives to deliver individualized market advice & service. Aaron lives in Washington, IL with his wife, Allyson, and their two children. They regularly get back to each of their family
Tanner Moseley
Risk Management ConsultantTanner comes to Blue Reef after he interned with us in the summer of 2016. He graduated from Purdue University a year early with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and a concentration in Commodities Marketing, and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho. Tanner grew up on a farm in Central Indiana, with strong agricultural ties both on farm and in Washington, with his grandfather being a former deputy secretary of the USDA.
We are excited to have Tanner with us as part of the Blue Reef team. He strives for positive customer relations and to assist progressive farming operations looking for marketing help. His passion for the industry and drive to find solutions is a valuable asset. Tanner resides in Champaign, IL with his wife.
Casey Mabry
Risk Management Consultant & Cash Cattle SpecialistCasey comes to Blue Reef following over a decade career with Cargill in the beef business. Casey’s career in the industry started as a cattle buyer in Western Nebraska and Wyoming for 6 years. Casey then moved to Wichita, KS and worked in boxed beef pricing with a focus on understanding out front prices and position optimization. Casey then moved back into cattle procurement for Cargill as the Strategic Supply manager with a focus on cattle formula and grid marketing arrangements working with Cargills largest suppliers.
Casey’s experience in cash and value based marketing of cattle can be a valuable asset to your operation.
Casey has a Bachelors Degree From Texas Tech and a Masters from Tarleton State University. Casey was on the Meats Judging team at TTU and coached the Meats team at TSU. He resides in Brock, TX with his wife Deidrea and daughters Reyse, Avery and Brooklyn.