United Soybean Board Leaders Committed to Moving U.S. Soy Industry Forward in 2012
ST. LOUIS (December 16, 2011) - The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff prepare to head into the new year with a new farmer-led executive committee, electing Jim Stillman, a checkoff farmer-leader from Emmetsburg, Iowa, as vice chair. Stillman, along with the 68 other volunteer farmer-directors, will focus on implementing specific, new strategic objectives outlined in the checkoff's Long-Range Strategic Plan.
They include directing soybean checkoff dollars to improve U.S. soybean meal and oil, helping ensure U.S. soybean farmers have the freedom and adequate transportation infrastructure to operate and meeting the needs customers of U.S. soy here at home and abroad. In addition, USB made supporting the biggest domestic user of soy - U.S. poultry, livestock and fish farmers - its top priority.
"These issues are critical to the U.S. soy industry," Stillman said after his election. "I'm honored to help lead the soybean checkoff as it focuses on these issues and others that help maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers."
Stillman has been a checkoff farmer-leader since 2005, most recently serving two terms as USB treasurer.
Other soybean farmer-leaders elected to the 2012 USB executive committee include :
• Vanessa Kummer, Colfax, N.D., Chair
• Jim Call, Madison, Minn., Secretary
• Bob Haselwood, Berryton, Kan., Treasurer
• Lewis Bainbridge, Ethan, S.D., Domestic Marketing Chair
• Russ Carpenter, Trumansburg, N.Y., New Uses Chair
• Sharon Covert, Tiskilwa, Ill., International Marketing Chair
• Jim Schriver, Montpelier, Ind., Production Chair
• Jimmy Sneed, Hernando, Miss., Communications Chair
• Rick Stern, Cream Ridge, N.J, Audit & Evaluation Chair
USB is made up of 69 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.
For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit us at www.UnitedSoybean.org
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