BELLEVUE, NE, November 04, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Keli Payne has been recognized for achievement in agriculture.

Mrs. Payne has established herself as very knowledgeable in the Midwest dried distillers' grains trading, with a primary focus on Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas, and additional reach into Oklahoma and Texas. In her current role as Junior Trader at Bunge, which she began in 2024, she is responsible for a wide array of operational and relationship-driven tasks. Each morning, Mrs. Payne contacts origin plants to monitor inventory, review load counts, and confirm that all open loads, including those carried over from the previous week, are being picked up. She alerts customers and truckers to any issues that could affect scheduling and reviews contracts to ensure that all parties remain current. Building strong relationships with new and existing customers is central to her approach, as she strives to be more than just a name or voice but someone clients know and trust.

Prior to becoming a Junior Trader, Mrs. Payne held several roles at Bunge, (previously Viterra and Gavilon) beginning in 2020. She started as a trade assistant and earned promotions to trade associate, trade specialist and merchandiser trainee through 2024. Each position provided opportunities for professional growth and deepened her understanding of commodity trading operations. Her journey at Bunge remains the defining aspect of her career, marked by perseverance through challenges and a commitment to continuous improvement.

In addition to her tenure at Bunge, in 2024 prior to the Viterra merger Mrs. Payne was a Merchandiser Trainee and served as a Trade Facilitation Specialist in Omaha that same year by further expanding her expertise in agricultural commodities markets. From 2022 to 2023, she worked as a Trade Facilitation Associate at Viterra US. Her experience also includes time at Gavilon Group LLC, where her role as a trade facilitation associate began in 2023, following a role as a trade facilitation assistant from 2020 to 2022.

Earlier in her career, Mrs. Payne served as a Customer Service Representative at Farmers and Merchants Bank from 2019 to 2020, and as a Consumer Specialist with Cargill in New Orleans from 2018 to 2019. She also worked as a Relationship Banker at MainSource Bank in Indiana between 2017 and 2018.

Mrs. Payne's early professional background includes roles outside of trading and finance. In 2016, she was employed as a Veterinary Technician at Animal Care Hospital in Dyersburg, Tennessee. From 2014 to 2015, she gained hands-on experience in animal sciences as an assistant dairy herdsman at Northwest Missouri State University.

Her academic foundation was laid at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, where she earned a bachelor's degree in animal sciences in 2016. This educational background provided essential knowledge that has supported her success across various roles within agriculture and commodity trading.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Mrs. Payne is actively involved in civic initiatives through Bunge's partnerships with charitable organizations. She has organized yearly diaper drives for distribution throughout the Omaha metro area and has supported food drives benefiting the Food Bank of America. In addition, she also organizes a company wide Pink Out event every October for breast cancer awareness.

During her college years, Mrs. Payne received recognition for her achievements -an early indicator of the dedication she would bring to her career.

Outside of work, Mrs. Payne values time spent with family above all else. Born in Lewistown, she married Keaton Payne in 2021 and together they have one son. The family enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing, often exploring new places together; their recent vacation to Colorado included both pursuits. Photography has been one of Mrs. Payne's passions since adolescence, complementing her love for nature and time spent outdoors with loved ones.

Looking ahead, Mrs. Payne aims to advance in the trading profession by expanding both her customer and supplier bases while establishing herself as an influential figure known for her commitment and results. She is determined to meet the industry's evolving demands, gaining knowledge and confidence with each year of experience.

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