South Dakota Soybean Leader— Summer 2021

Page 34

INVESTING CHECKOFF DOLLARS

SOUTH DAKOTA SOYBEAN PORTRAIT: JORDAN AND KEVIN SCOTT

M

ost days, the biggest disagreement between Jordan Scott and his dad, Kevin, centers on baseball. Kevin, a fan of the Minnesota Twins, is bewildered by son Jordan’s rooting for the Cubs. One step into the younger Scott’s man cave at his Valley Springs, South Dakota home place makes obvious his loyalty to Chicago’s North Siders. What counts though is what the two have in common.

What both are enjoying is the current strength in soybean prices. “The market’s great,” says Kevin, breaking into a grin. “The checkoff is doing its job.” He points out the good that has come from the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s work to improve exports and from checkoff-funded research. “That means there are a lot of new uses going on with soy oil, so the demand is strong there.”

When asked what it is like farming with his son, Kevin’s response is immediate. “Oh, nothing better,” says Kevin, about working side by side with his younger farming partner. “It gives you a reason to continue to improve your operation knowing that somebody else will be there to take it over later. And that’s a good thing.”

“I see it every day with the checkoff focusing on marketing and the association focusing on policy, both making a difference,” says Jordan. “The funds are being used in a good way and actually bringing value back to the farm.”

“Dad and I get along most days,” says Jordan Scott with a chuckle. “We’re in the same field a lot of the time or right across the road from each other, and that’s pretty neat.” Another notable commonality is that Jordan is president of the South Dakota Soybean Association (SDSA), while Kevin presides over the American Soybean Association (ASA). “It’s certainly a humbling experience,” says Kevin, referring to his service as ASA president. “During this year of COVID, it’s been a little bit more difficult to enjoy it like you would have in the past, but I’ve stayed home a lot more, and that’s not a bad thing.” In a typical year, says Kevin, the ASA president would be away from the farm for 175 days. “I was prepared for that, because I’ve got Jordan here at the farm; he can handle that when I’m gone.” It appears Jordan will get his turn at bat. The respite from ASA-related travel is ending. “We’re just now starting our board meetings again, getting back together,” says Kevin. “March was our first [in-person] board meeting and we’re going to go again in July.” 34

For Kevin, the decision on this life path could have easily resulted in a career off the farm. “When I was going to college, farming was the last thing I wanted to do,” he says. While at South Dakota State University, however, Kevin developed a crush on grade schoolmate and family friend Jannell Gage, whose father needed a hired hand on his farm. “Bingo,” he says, about fate intervening, “Two weeks after we graduated, we were married, and I started farming; that was the only thing I wanted to do after that.” The family has done extensive legacy planning with an eye toward an eventual transition and beyond. “Every decision we make now is based on the next generation,” says Jordan. “Everything I’m doing today, I have my son in mind, and I can see now that my dad did the same for me.” Jordan’s great-greatgrandfather seemed to be thinking along those lines when the farm was established in 1886. “I’ve been very fortunate and have been able to continue on with the legacy that they started many years ago,” says Kevin. “We’re kind of hoping that the next generation will be here too, and the following generation after that.”

Summer Issue 2021

SDSL


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Articles inside

Use the SD Spray Tool for Inversion Detection and Weather for Pesticide Application

2min
page 42

Why Join the South Dakota Soybean Association?

2min
pages 43-44

Scouting for Trouble: Using Drone Imagery Can Help Locate and Possibly Identify Soybean Issues

3min
pages 40-41

Biodiesel Hitting Hard with Health Benefits

2min
pages 38-39

Hunter Roberts, South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources

3min
pages 36-37

Video Series Highlights Consequences of Foreign Material in Soybeans

1min
page 35

Advertorial: Mustang Seeds

2min
page 26

WISHH Helps Catch New Fish & Poultry Feed Markets for Soybean Meal

3min
pages 32-33

South Dakota Soybean Portrait Jordan and Kevin Scott

3min
page 34

Program Update

5min
pages 27-29

Hungry for Truth

4min
pages 24-25

Carbon Market Snapshot

7min
pages 22-23

Health and Farming

2min
pages 20-21

Advertorial: TSGC

4min
pages 30-31

Stockyards Ag Experience

3min
pages 14-15

Making Cover Crops Work in Northern Regions

9min
pages 16-19

Soy Industry News

4min
pages 8-10

Executive Director Letter

2min
page 11

Letter from Your Checkoff Chairman

2min
page 5

Biologicals, Soil Health, and Crop Productivity

3min
page 7

Market Analysis

2min
page 6

What’s Behind those Strong Soybean Prices?

4min
pages 12-13
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