Missouri Soybean Checkoff Announces New Leadership, Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2008
Contact: Adam Buckallew (573) 635-3819

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (July 29, 2008) – The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council’s (MSMC) board of directors has named Keith Phillips, a farmer from Kahoka, Mo., to lead the soybean checkoff organization for the next year. Gary Alpers, a soybean farmer from Prairie Home, Mo., was elected vice chairman of the 13-member board. Working with Phillips and Alpers will be Will Spargo, Neelyville, Mo., who will serve as secretary and treasurer. The election took place at the MSMC’s summer meeting in Mexico, Mo.

The board also seated new members Gary Branum of New Madrid, Mo., Harold Gloe of Hermann, Mo., and Lewis Rone of Portageville, Mo. They replace Jason Bean of Holcomb, Mo., Mark Stevens of Montgomery City, Mo., and Allen Rowland of Dexter, Mo. The new board members will serve three-year terms. David Lueck, of Alma, Mo. and Alpers were both re-elected to the board.

“ We are excited to work with our newly formed leadership team and new board members,” said Dale R. Ludwig, MSMC executive director/CEO. “We certainly appreciate these individuals’ willingness to volunteer their time and efforts on behalf of Missouri’s soybean farmers.”

The soybean checkoff program began in Missouri in 1979 as a way for soybean producers to pool resources to promote their product. The MSMC is a producer-run organization, with 13 farmer-directors overseeing the investment of 50 percent of Missouri’s checkoff dollars. The directors are selected by fellow soybean farmers through elections ran by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Through “checking off” soybean farmers contribute one-half of one percent of their net receipts for the commodity to fund a variety of projects aimed at increasing the profitability of soybean farming including new uses, international marketing and research.. The United Soybean Board directs the usage of Missouri’s remaining soybean checkoff dollars.

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© Missouri Soybean Programs
PO Box 104778
3337 Emerald Lane
Jefferson City, MO 65110
Phone: (573) 635-3819
Fax: (573) 635-5122
email: mosoy@mosoy.org