Soy Leaders Network demonstrates importance of insight

August 1, 2024 | Jeff Hutton

Kellie Lasack is a wife and mother, owns her own marketing business and when she can, helps with both her husband’s family farm and her father’s cattle operation. For some, that’s plenty.

But for Lasack, knowledge is power and that’s why she’s a part of Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Soy Leaders Network (SLN). Being part of the SLN is helping her grow her knowledge base, which in turn allows her to provide more insight into work on the farm.

Down on the farm

“I grew up on a farm with cattle, chickens, pigs and row crops,” says Lasack, who resides near Oxford Junction. “It’s always been a part of my life to be involved on the farm.”

After high school, Lasack moved on to college where she earned a degree in ag communications. She continued to help her father, Dave Gregorich, with his farm, and then met her husband, Joel, an ag loan officer, who raises crops and Angus cattle with his family.

“I have a lot going on otherwise, but I still like to know what’s going on in the field — when we are spraying, what fertilizers we are putting down, what we are seeding,” she says.

Soybeans haven’t always been an emphasis for her husband or father, but Lasack says that is slowly changing.

“I’m very involved in the decisions that we make on our farm and my husband is very open with what I’m interested in,” she says. “Last year was the first year that we put soybeans down on our own farm.

“It was exciting to plant over 70 acres of soybeans. Corn on corn is not ideal.”

This year, that particular field is planted to corn, but with the acquisition of another farm, the Lasacks have planted 50 acres of soybeans in 2024.

They also plant alfalfa, which doubles as a cover crop and feed for their cattle.

“Cover crops are something I’m very passionate about,” she says.

Empowering efforts

Decisions involving soybeans and cover crops come from research and finding out the ins and outs of production. That’s why SLN appeals to Lasack.

“For me, it’s about networking,” she says. “I’m excited to meet other people within the soybean industry, within Iowa, who are as willing and as excited as I am to learn more.

“I love to be educated and with SLN, I feel like it’s giving me so much more information — not just about planting soybeans, but exports, marketing and other areas.”

She shares that information with her family and others who aren’t as familiar with soybean production.

“My dad will tell you he’s not really a row crops guy, he’s more interested in cattle,” she says. “But this allows me to be a part of the farming decisions, to be aware of what’s going on and to share what I learn.”

It also takes the “sting out of not being able to out there in the field” with her family, she says.

“I can’t do it all, but with the SLN, it makes you feel good, makes you feel better about your operation and what you’re doing,” she says. “It’s just empowering, and the networking is incredible. We live in Iowa and we have a lot of soybeans.

I travel a lot and I have clients; I really want to tell people more about soybeans and be a powerhouse of knowledge.”

SLN benefits

SLN was designed for members like Lasack in mind.

“We recognize that our farmer members want to engage with us and stay up to date on industry news, but they may not have the time to commit to ISA’s programs and events,” says Julia Brenizer, an ISA producer services coordinator. “SLN members can simply engage with ISA when it works for them. The SLN has been a great place for the farmer engaging with ISA for the first time, the farmer who has completed several ISA programs and needs to slow down for a bit to focus on their farm and their family, and for the farmer who has served on the ISA Board of Directors and now simply wants to stay informed and connected.”

SLN members receive information to stay up to date on what ISA is doing and what is happening in the soybean industry.

Many SLN opportunities are virtual like the monthly e-newsletter and quarterly educational webinars. Timely information is offered like planting and harvest updates from fellow farmers, invitations to upcoming events, agronomy updates, policy updates and market outlooks.

The SLN also has casual in-person meet-ups each summer and allows members the chance to discuss struggles, ideas and ask questions to other farmers in their district.

Any ISA farmer member is eligible to join the SLN. Go to iasoybeans.com/programs/soy-leaders-network.

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