ISA Leaders Remember "NoTillTom"

ISA leaders remember “NoTillTom”

By Bethany Baratta, bbaratta@iasoybeans.com

Tom Oswald, a fourth-generation farmer known for his inquisitive mind and advocacy on behalf of the soybean industry, passed away unexpectedly on June 16. He was 63.

Tom farmed near Cleghorn, in the same area his ancestors first settled in 1869. He served the soybean industry in various capacities for more than 20 years. He served on the county level, and then became director and ultimately president of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) from 2014-2015.

At the time of his death, he was serving as a national director and chair of the audit and evaluation committee for the United Soybean Board (USB). Oswald was also past president of the Cherokee County Farm Bureau, a Cherokee County Soil Commissioner and a member of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee.

Thoughtful Contributor

Fellow ISA and USB Director April Hemmes of Hampton says the news of Tom’s death is a shock to farmers and ag leaders who knew him.

“Everyone is in shock, and they all know he will be missed as a leader in the ag world.”

Hemmes says Tom would often challenge others during board meetings.

“Tom always had a question for you or the speaker at the meeting. And then when the discussion came around about any subject, you would see him tilt back in his chair, look up for a while, then after he was done organizing his thoughts, he would begin to speak,” she says.

“He was always thinking outside the box; he was the ‘what if’ guy in the room. I will miss the banter he and I used to have, the exchanging of ideas and the fact that in decision making, he always put what was best for the farmer first.”

Farmer-First Approach

As ISA president, Tom’s farmer-first approach extended to the board for which he guided. Wayne Fredericks, who succeeded Tom as president of the ISA, looked to him as a mentor.

“Tom reached out and did a lot to help me learn and adjust,” says Fredericks of Osage. “I learned the ropes, and we became friends right away.”

In addition to countless meetings and trips they took together as directors domestically and abroad, Fredericks and Tom’s friendship extended outside of the ISA. When the COVID-19 pandemic restricted traveling, they stayed in touch with a virtual happy hour.

Worldwide Connections

The two were connected through their farming beliefs. Tom was a staunch supporter of strip-till and no-till farming, often voicing his support of the practices based on decades of experience. His license plate was a traveling billboard for who he was and what he believed in. It read ‘NoTilTm,” short for “NoTillTom,” and was adorned in cardinal and gold, favoring Iowa State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Agriculture degrees.

“We both farmed alike,” Fredericks says. “We were both heavily into conservation, no-till, strip-till, so we also had that commonality. It was an honor and pleasure to work under him.”

When Tom believed in something, he believed in it wholeheartedly, Fredericks notes.

“He was a leader, a national speaker and I can’t say enough about his leadership in conservation within the soy world,” he says.

Perhaps his “about me” section of his Twitter account said it best: “My tweets are my own thoughts and opinions generated from a brew of life experiences.”

Tom got his first GPS in 1996 and took to the AgTalk online forum to learn from farmers who had already worked out the kinks in their systems.

And he never stopped learning or helping others learn from his experiences. His passion for sharing agriculture with farmers also extended into sharing fact-based information with consumers.

Tom authored the monthly Farm Life Journal for the Iowa Food & Family Project throughout 2019. Through the blog, he shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Iowa agriculture. He brought to life the importance of conservation, multigenerational farming, continuous learning and how agriculture is a “people” business.

Reflective Leader

“I have worked with many farmer leaders over the years, but when I say Tom was a unique person, I mean it in the most positive way,” says ISA CEO Kirk Leeds.

“I’m not sure I have ever worked alongside a more thoughtful and reflective leader. On any issue being considered, Tom would ask really insightful questions and share a perspective that needed to be considered. “He took his leadership role in serving Iowa’s soybean farmers very seriously. Our organization and our industry are better because of Tom Oswald, and he will be missed by all that were fortunate to know him.”

ISA President Robb Ewoldt of Davenport says Oswald’s contributions to conversations challenged others to think broadly.

“He was all about soybeans and no-till farming,” says Ewoldt. “Our association, industry and state are better because of Tom.”

ISA At-Large Director and USB Director Lindsay Greiner of Keota says Oswald’s legacy extends beyond the boardrooms where he served.

“Tom was a true leader who wasn’t afraid to take different paths toward a solution,” says Greiner, a past ISA president.

“Personally, Tom was a thoughtful person. He was always there to offer kind, thoughtful words of advice and encouragement to others around him,” Greiner says. “Tom will be greatly missed in the soybean world, and his contributions will live on for many years to come. Godspeed.”