Missouri’s annual election of farmer leaders to oversee soybean checkoff investments affirmed soybean growers’ support for the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council board of directors. Three current farmer-leaders were elected to additional three-year terms, and a previous state and national leader will reprise his role representing southeastern Missouri growers.
“We appreciate Missouri soybean farmers’ participation and service, and Missouri Department of Agriculture staff ensuring a smooth and transparent process in our annual elections,” said Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council chairman John Kelley of Faucett. “We’re truly a farmer-led organization and take our responsibilities to ensure Missouri farmers have access to the most up-to-date research information and continue to benefit from new market opportunities for their soybean very seriously.”
Current directors Cecil DeMott of Rock Port (Dist. 1), Kyle Durham of Norborne (Dist. 2) and Tim Gottman of Monroe City (Dist. 3) were re-elected to the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council board.
Jason Bean of Holcomb was elected to represent southeastern Missouri’s District 7 on the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council board of directors. He replaces Pat Hobbs of Dudley, who has represented District 7 on the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council board since 2006 and will retire from the board seat this summer.
Bean was selected by a vote of soybean farmers in the region, via mail-in ballot in an election overseen by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Bean previously served on the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council board of directors 1996-2008 and represented his fellow Missouri soybean producers on the United Soybean Board 2002-2011.
Committee assignments for Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council will be determined during the summer board meeting, currently being planned for the last week of July. New board members will begin their roles during that meeting.
The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council is a statewide, farmer-led organization working to improve opportunities for Missouri soybean farmers though a combination of research, outreach, education and market development efforts supported by the soy checkoff.