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Yesterday, Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced it partnered with Kansas State University to help educate international grain buyers about U.S. railroads' role in moving large export grain volumes.

The BNSF Foundation will contribute $250,000 during a five-year period toward a railroad exhibit in the university's new International Grains Program (IGP) Executive Conference Center. In addition, BNSF executives will conduct the railroad portion of the program's courses designed for international grain buyers.

"Kansas State has established itself as a global leader in training international grain export buyers, and this program is helping to attract those buyers to the farmers, elevators and grain export marketers we serve," said BNSF Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Rose in a prepared statement.

Scheduled to open May 1, the 20,000-square-foot IGP conference center features meeting and instructional facilities, including a grain grading laboratory, an auditorium-style classroom, dining and lounge areas, office space and the railroad education exhibit.

"The IGP facility … is a natural site to showcase the critical role that BNSF and the rail industry play in our process of marketing grain internationally," said Kansas Wheat Commission Administrator David Frey.