Fritz completes tenure as a director of American Soybean Association

Also elected were Randy Mann from Auburn, Ky. as secretary and Richard Wilkins from Greenwood, Del. as treasurer. Four vice presidents were also elected: Bob Henry from Robinson, Kan.; Bob Worth from Lake Benton, Minn.; Wade Cowan from Brownfield, Texas; and Mark Jackson from Rose Hill, Iowa. These soybean farmer-leaders form the nine-member ASA executive committee.

Elections were held on Friday, Dec. 7, during ASA’s winter board of director’s meeting in St. Louis.

"My goals include completing the 2012 Farm Bill, continuing to work with the other organizations in our soy family and impressing upon soybean farmers the need for and value of ASA’s representation in Washington, D.C.," Murphy said. "ASA will continue working to get a Farm Bill done in the Lame Duck session or early next year – the drought this year should make it evident how critical crop insurance is to soybean farmers. And to meet the demand for food and feed that will be required by the expected world population of 9 billion people in 2050, U.S. soybean farmers will need to sustainably increase our production in the face of increased regulation, competition from other crops, unfounded questions on the safety of biotechnology, and slow approvals of new biotech traits."

Following the elections, committee assignments were announced these committees: Public Affairs Committee, Membership & Corporate Relations Committee, Trade Policy & International Affairs Committee, and Finance Committee.

The board welcomed eight new members who are Bret Davis (Ohio), Cory Devillier (La.), Bill Gordon (Minn.), Mark Huston (Canada), John Rivers (S.C.), Dan Roe (Wis.), Joe Steinkamp (Ind.) and Davie Stephens (Ky.).

ASA also recognized retiring directors Joe Steiner (Ohio), Charles Cannatella (La.), Barb Overlie (Minn.), Kevin Marriott (Canada), M.D. Floyd (S.C.), Tim Goodenough (Wis.), Scott Fritz (Ind.) and Jack Trumbo (Ky.).

Steinkamp is a Vanderburgh County farmer and Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) director

“I look forward to serving Indiana soybean farmers on a national level through my role on the ASA board,” said Steinkamp. “As global demand for soy continues to increase, one of my goals is to keep U.S. farmers competitive globally through sound political policies.”

Steinkamp currently serves on ISA’s executive committee as chairman of the membership and policy committee. He was elected to the ISA board in 2009. Indiana Soybean Alliance has two seats on the ASA board. Alan Kemper of Lafayette, is the other Indiana representative on the board. Steinkamp was appointed by the membership and policy committee of ISA to serve on the national board replacing Scott Fritz of Winamac, who served his full nine years on the ASA board.

Fritz, a farmer from Winamac, continues to serve as a director for WISHH (World Initiatve for Soy in Human Health), a program of the American Soybean Association (ASA) which brings the benefits of U.S. soy protein to developing countries where it can make a difference in lives today and in the future. Over 800 million people worldwide, including 200 million children are undernourished. Soy is well suited to provide the protein, calories and other nutritional needs of such people. The creation of WISHH in 2000 by U.S. soybean growers showed their concern for the undernourished around the globe. Since its creation, WISHH has been enhancing the protein intake of many nations through market development, humanitarian assistance, education and research.

The American Soybean Association is the national organization that represents U.S. soybean farmers through policy advocacy and international market development. ASA’s advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary membership in ASA by more than 21,000 farmers in 30 states where soybeans are grown. For more information on ASA, visit www.soygrowers.com/.