Soybean Checkoff Announces See for Yourself Participants

Posted: Monday, June 1, 2009 8:01 pm

ST. LOUIS (May 29, 2009) – What better way for an organization to evaluate the effectiveness of its programs than to invite its investors to assess for themselves the types of programs their investments are funding? To that end, the United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff have announced the list of 10 soybean farmers who will be taking part in the second annual See for Yourself program this summer. The 10 participants, listed with their hometowns, are:

Andy Bensend, Dallas, Wis.

Wilfrid Bibus, Chesterfield, N.J.

David Bray, Oakland, Neb.

Chris Danner, Templeton, Iowa

Christopher Gibbs, Maplewood, Ohio

Terry Lieb, Monticello, Ill.

Kevin Scott, Poneto, Ind.

Marvin Stech, Osmond, Neb.

H. Grant Troop, Oxford, Pa.

Dale Workman, West Lafayette, Ind.

The tour begins on July 13 in St. Louis and ends on July 18 in Mexico, the number one importer of U.S. soybean meal. Along the way, participants will tour several facilities that represent various end users of U.S. soy and have the opportunity to interact with USB leadership and provide their perspective and feedback on the checkoff.

The trip is designed to give soybean farmers with little to no firsthand knowledge of USB a look at their checkoff in action. Several of the checkoff’s areas of focus, including biodiesel, new uses, animal agriculture and international marketing, will take center stage during this whirlwind tour.

“We were very satisfied with the first trip last year, and I’m sure we’ll be satisfied with it again this year,” said Jim Stillman, a soybean farmer from Emmetsburg, Iowa, and chair of the USB Audit & Evaluation Committee, which sponsors the expedition. “This program gives farmers a look at several areas the checkoff is focusing on, including biodiesel, new uses, animal agriculture and international marketing.”

USB is made up of 68 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.

Posted 6.1.09