IARN — The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is driven to deliver insights, tools, activities and information to improve the competitiveness and profitability of the state’s soybean growers. This is a feat only made possible by the collective voice and checkoff investment of Iowa’s soybean farmers.
This July, ISA encourages the state’s 40,000 soybean growers to participate in the board of directors election. Iowa farmers who market at least 250 bushels of soybeans annually are eligible to vote in the annual election. Ballots and additional instructions have been mailed and must be postmarked for return by July 31.
“We encourage farmers to lend their voices and see their input reflected in the work ISA does,” says Randy Miller, ISA president and soybean farmer near Lacona. “When we elect farmers to the ISA board, we are choosing leaders tasked with deciding how the checkoff dollars of Iowa soybean growers are best utilized.”
The ISA board consists of two directors representing each of Iowa’s nine crop reporting districts and four At-Large positions. Directors serve for three years and are eligible for three consecutive terms. Farmers on this year’s ballot represent ISA Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and At-Large. Two At-Large director races are taking place.
• District 1: Paul Kassel (Spencer); Randy Kroksh (Akron)
• District 2: Marilee Jones (Sheffield); Sam Showalter (Hampton)
• District 4: Jeff Frank (Lake View); James Hepp (Rockwell City)
• District 5: Corey Goodhue (Carlisle); Patrick Murken (Story City); Scott Neff (Beaman)
• District 7: Scot Bailey (Anita); Mark Focht (Villisca)
• District 9: Tom Adam (Harper); Jeff Hedges (Oakville)
• At-Large: Laverne Arndt (Sac City); Sharon Chism (Huxley)
• At-Large: Aimee Bissell (Bedford); Rex Lawler (New Providence)
“We thank all candidates for their willingness to volunteer, step up and lead,” says Miller.
“Farmer involvement remains critical to the health and vibrancy of ISA and our industry for years to come.”
Farmers who have not received a mailed ballot by June 30 should contact the Iowa Soybean Association at (515) 251-8620. To learn more about the candidates, visit www.iasoybeans.com.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
