BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) seeks applications from highly motivated and qualified candidates to fill board seats representing Districts 3, 4, 6, 8, 15 and 18 that are up for election this year.
John Longley (District 3), Sharon Covert, (District 4), Dale Asher (District 8) and Daryl Cates (District 15) will all term off the board during ISA’s July 2019 meeting in Champaign, Ill. Jim Martin (District 6) and Rick Rubenacker (District 18) are eligible for re-election. The Illinois Department of Agriculture directs the election process. Open positions include:
- District 3: Henderson, Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, Warren and Whiteside
- District 4: Bureau, Grundy, Kendall and LaSalle counties
- District 6: Livingston, McLean and Woodford counties
- District 8: Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler counties
- District 15: Clinton, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties
- District 18: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson counties
The ISA board is comprised of 18 district directors and six at-large directors. Board members’ responsibilities entail providing forward thinking, strategic and financial oversight for the organization, representing 43,000 Illinois soybean producers in state, national and international issues. Oversight includes understanding legal and ethical practices and ensuring compliance with state and national soybean checkoffs. Board members are responsible for serving in the best interest of all Illinois soybean producers, loyally putting organizational interests above personal interests and acting with fidelity to advance the organization’s mission.
Eligibility to serve requires candidates be Illinois residents of legal voting age that contribute to the soybean checkoff. Candidates must also be residents within the district and maintain eligibility during their term(s). Directors may need to devote about 24 days per year, depending on level of leadership and representation needs.Petitions are available at the above listed county Extension offices or by contacting Claudine Wargel at 217-219-0323 or claudine@ccwargel.com, or Dustin Scott at 309-808-3603 or scottd@ilsoy.org. Contact Wargel or Scott with questions or for additional information.
To have your name placed on the ballot, petitions must be completed and filed with the Illinois Department of Agriculture director in Springfield no later than 5 p.m., May 15, 2019. A candidate’s petition must carry the signatures of at least 250 of the qualified producers from the district where the candidate seeks office, or five percent, whichever is less. Any person running as a write-in candidate must also meet the eligibility requirements and submit a Declaration of Intent to the director no later than 5 p.m., June 25, 2019. Elections will be held July 2, 2019.
The Illinois Soybean Board (ISB) manages and invests Illinois soybean checkoff funds in research, promotion and education programs that enhance soybean production and use and support national and international market development. For information, visit www.ilsoy.org.
— Illinois Soybean Association
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