Iowa Soybean Farmers Elect New Leadership to Drive Demand, Grow Opportunities

BY BROCK JOHNSTON

Farmer-leaders of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Board of Directors elected Brent Swart of Spencer as president during its September board meeting. The association’s 22 volunteer farmer directors represent the state’s nine crop reporting districts in overseeing the management and allocation of soybean checkoff and non-checkoff resources.

Swart was first elected as a district 1 director in 2018. He grows soybeans, corn and cover crops with his brother Steve on their fifth-generation land near Spencer in Clay County. Swart has been a long-time advocate for checkoff-funded efforts advancing soybean research and promotion and has held leadership positions with the Midwest Soybean Collaborative and the Iowa State Soybean Research Center.

“I’m privileged to have the opportunity to represent Iowa soybean farmers in this role,” says Swart who most recently served as ISA president-elect. “ISA can continue to be a strong advocate and voice on the issues that directly benefit Iowa soybean farmers. As stewards of soybean checkoff dollars, I’m confident in the ISA board’s ability to find opportunities that are best suited to boost farmer profitability, productivity and sustainability amid these challenging times.”

Four farmer-leaders were also appointed to serve on the ISA’s Executive Committee, including:

• Tom Adam, President-Elect — Harper

• Lee Brooke, Treasurer — Clarinda

• Sam Showalter, Secretary — Hampton

• Scot Bailey, At-Large — Anita

Directors are chosen by Iowa soybean farmers through the ISA election in July and take office in September. Members voted for two farmers from their crop reporting district and four farmers to serve as at-large directors.

Newly elected farmers who will serve three-year terms on the board are: Newly elected farmers who will serve three-year terms on the board were: Mike Yegge, Lake Mills (District 2); Amanda Tupper, Ionia (District 3); Matt Willimack, DeWitt (District 6); Jeff Ellis, Donnellson (District 9); and Jack Boyer, Reinbeck (At-Large).