CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Thursday the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) elected Lynn Rohrscheib, Fairmount, as its new chairwoman. Rohrscheib succeeds Daryl Cates, Columbia, who served as chairman for the past two years.
“I am so excited to have this opportunity to serve Illinois soybean growers as chairwoman,” Rohrscheib said. “I am excited to help implement plans that will continue to make farmers more profitable and knowledgeable. I also look forward to the new endeavors in the Chicago area that the organization continues to focus on.”
Other Executive Committee members include Vice-Chairman Doug Schroeder, Mahomet; Treasurer Jered Hooker, Clinton; Secretary John Longley, Aledo, and Assistant Secreatry-Treasurer Stan Born, Lovington. Joining the Executive Committee are Jenny Mennenga, LeRoy, as Production and Outreach Committee chairwoman and Austin Rincker, Moweaqua, as Marketing Committee chairman. Mennenga and Rincker also were re-elected to at-large director positions.
Edward Murphy from Farmersville was newly elected to the board at this meeting. Murphy represents District 13, where he farms with his son. He is a graduate of Wabash Valley College with an Associate’s Degree in Agribusiness. He began farming in 1970 and raises soybeans, corn, alfalfa, hay and oats. He is also a fourth-generation draft mule farmer.
Several board members were re-elected to district director positions. Paul Rasmussen, Genoa, was re-elected to District 1; as well as Stan Born, Lovington, to District 5; Tom Kentner, Danville, to District 7; Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, to District 9 and Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, Nebo, to District 12.
“Lynn has been a vocal leader at ISA for many years. She is well-respected on our board and in the community,” said Cates. “We look forward to starting new projects with her leading our board and using her experience and perspective to continue to push the organization forward.”
ISA has a total board of 18 district directors and six at-large directors throughout the state who work on behalf of Illinois soybean growers and the checkoff. Each board member serves on the Production and Outreach Committee or the Marketing Committee. To learn more about becoming a board member for ISA, visit www.ilsoy.org/leadership.
Rohrscheib previously served as vice-chairwoman, Secretary and at-large director for ISA. Rohrscheib farms as part of a family operation that also includes a custom application business. She has a degree in plant and soil sciences from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Rohrscheib also currently serves as a board member on the United Soybean Board.
Stan Born previously served as secretary and as a member of the Production and Outreach Committee. He currently serves as a board member for the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and the American Soybean Association. He raises soybeans and corn, and was previously an ISA Soy Ambassador. He has a chemical engineering degree from the University of Illinois, and more than 30 years of industrial leadership experience with Caterpillar, Inc.
Doug Schroeder most recently served as treasurer and member of the Marketing Committee. He raises soybeans and seed corn. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Illinois Ag Leadership program, and was an American Soybean Association DuPont Pioneer Young Leader.
Jered Hooker previously served as vice chairman for the Production and Outreach Committee before being elected to assistant secretary-treasurer in 2015. He currently is a board member of the North Central Soybean Research Promotion Council and for the American Soybean Association. His farm has been owned by the family since 1875. Hooker was also an ISA Soy Ambassador.
John Longley previously served as the Production and Outreach Committee chairman. Longley raises soybeans and corn, and farms with his daughter, Kate Danner. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Farm Management a Master’s Degree in Agronomy from the University of Illinois.
Jenny Mennenga is an at-large director and a previous ISA Soy Ambassador. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy and Seed Science from Iowa State University and is a Certified Crop Adviser.
Austin Rincker is an at-large director and a previous ISA Soy Ambassador. He received an associate’s degree from Lake Land College, and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in agriculture and consumer economics with a minor in crop and soil science. In addition to corn and soybeans, Rincker raises beef cattle.
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.
— The Illinois Soybean Association
For more news from Illinois, click here.