Rural Route 2: Growing leaders

July 1, 2022 | Bethany Baratta

While visiting farmers during planting season, I was reminded again of your faith and optimism in those tiny seeds.

You have an arsenal of information on which to base your planting decisions. You’ve participated in trials to see how the specific traits perform in your fields.

In a sense, you train all year-round, prepared for this moment. Your moment. To plant your field.

You express your faith and optimism by planting the seed – and with a wish and a prayer, maybe a nod to God, you’re on your way to the next field. Or to the next ‘season’ on your farm.

Mother Nature can knock it down in a swift derecho, but you do the things you can control to yield an exceptional crop.

Participating in director elections is kind of like planting the seeds for the future. In this issue, you’ll learn more about the candidates vying for seats on the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) board of directors. Each of these candidates has stepped up to take the next step within the association. They understand challenges on the farm because they live and breathe it – just like you do. They have the traits to be successful on your board.

Look at the candidates and get a sense of who resonates with you. Which seeds would you like to plant within the board of directors? Who will yield the best results for you as a farmer and take the ISA ‘field’ to the next level? If you market at least 250 bushels of soybeans annually but haven’t received your ballot in the mail by July 15, call ISA at 515-250- 8640 to request one.

I can’t wait to see who you select to represent you. I’ll be in the front row, cheering them on and watching them grow in the association. I, too, am interested in how they plant their seeds within ISA and how they’ll grow.

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