BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois soybean farmers Jeff Lynn and Mike Cunningham are filling national leadership positions in the biodiesel industry.
Jeff Lynn recently was appointed to serve as a board member and Mike Cunningham was re-elected vice chairman of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) governing body. In addition, both were recently re-elected to posts on the National Biodiesel Foundation (NBF)—Lynn as president and Cunningham as director.
NBB is the leading U.S. trade association representing biodiesel and renewable diesel. The leadership team on the governing board comes from all sectors of the industry, including renewable energy groups, industry leaders and other state soybean association leadership. NBF works closely with NBB to accomplish outreach, education, research and demonstration activities for the advancement of biodiesel.
Lynn is from Oakford, Ill., where he contributes to the family corn and soybean operation that dates back to 1833. He serves on the ISA Marketing Committee and has been active in the Farm Bureau and Menard County Extension Youth Council.
“I am passionate about biodiesel’s benefits and I believe in the soybean industry,” says Lynn, an at-large director for the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). “This leadership opportunity gives me a chance to lead efforts to benefit both soybean farmers as well as the environment.”
Cunningham is a corn and soybean farmer from Bismarck, Ill. He has been involved with ISA and the American Soybean Association since 2002, representing Illinois soybean farmers at the state and national levels.
“It is critical to bring the soybean production perspective to biodiesel leadership and it is very rewarding to represent Illinois soybean farmers on a national level,” says Cunningham.
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development, soybean production and profitability research, issues analysis, communications and education. Membership and advocacy efforts support Illinois soybean farmer interests in local areas, Springfield and Washington, D.C., through the Illinois Soybean Growers. ISA programs are designed to ensure Illinois soy is the highest quality, most dependable, sustainable and competitive in the global marketplace. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org.
— Illinois Soybean Association
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