URBANDALE, Iowa - The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) held its annual leadership conference and annual meeting December 13-14 in Ames.

The annual meeting focused on issues primarily related to the upcoming state legislative session. Key new areas of policy involved shifting from a low-blend biodiesel strategy to a strategy that promotes higher blends of biodiesel, such as B5, B10 and B20. The session also resulted in resolutions supporting an effort to increase research to Iowa State University for agriculture research focused on soybeans. The biodiesel and research resolutions will be policy priorities for ISA in 2008.

Topics discussed at the meeting included biodiesel, the farm bill, updates from industry leaders and production agriculture.

ISA's 2008 marketing theme, "All in a Day's Work" figured prominently within the conference. That theme will play out through Iowa's crop districts during the year as district meetings focus on meeting the information needs of Iowa's soybean producers. The media campaign, complete with calendars featuring Iowa soybean farmers at work, also offers a chance for those attending district meetings to win one of nine Polaris 4-wheelers – one in each district.

Thursday evening's reception and banquet featured the activities of ISA's first Ag Urban Leadership Initiative class. Following an "All Iowa" meal, those in attendance heard from AU Initiative sponsors and participants about their experience. Des Moines Attorney Doug Gross capped the evening with a specific challenge to all leaders in the audience in regard to the opportunities that must be pursued if Iowa is to take advantage of high crop prices and this current window of economic growth.

Awards for county membership activity were presented Thursday. Palo Alto County received the award for general activity and Bremer County received honorable mention. Clinton County received the award for the most membership growth, with Van Buren County receiving honorable mention. Jerome Burke from Clinton County received an award for top recruiter points and Earl Brandt of Bremer received an award for the most members recruited. The top district was District 3, which includes Howard, Chickasaw, Bremer, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Fayette, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware and Dubuque counties.

The grand prize for the Travel to Treasure promotion was awarded Thursday. Charles and Wilda Albrecht of Readlyn won a trip to Hawaii, qualifying to win the trip by attending more than 10 Travel to Treasure events in 2007.