Iowa Soybean Growers Encouraged to Vote in Board Elections

Iowa Soybean Growers Encouraged to Vote in Board Elections

June 25, 2026 | Brock Johnston

Ankeny, Iowa - The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is driven to deliver insights, tools, activities and information to ensure the long-term competitiveness and profitability of the state's soybean growers. This feat is only made possible by the collective voice and checkoff investment of Iowa's soybean farmers.

This July, ISA encourages the state's 37,000 soybean growers to participate in the board of directors election. Iowa farmers who market at least 250 bushels of soybeans annually are eligible to vote in the annual election. Ballots and instructions have been mailed and must be postmarked for return by July 31.

"We encourage farmers to lend their voices and see their input reflected in ISA's work," said Tom Adam, ISA president and soybean farmer from Harper. "When we elect farmers to the ISA board, we are choosing leaders tasked with deciding how soybean checkoff investments and non-checkoff resources are best utilized."

The ISA board consists of two directors representing each of Iowa's nine crop reporting districts and four At-Large positions. Directors serve for three years and are eligible for three consecutive terms. Farmers on this year's ballot represent ISA Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and two At-Large races.

• District 1: Cody Gradert (Le Mars); Paul Kassel (Spencer)
• District 2: Shane Beenken (Titonka); Sam Showalter (Hampton)
• District 4: Josh Blair (Wall Lake); Gary Langbein (Sac City)
• District 5: Corey Goodhue (Carlisle); Lisa Obrecht (Zearing)
• District 7: Scot Bailey (Anita); Steve Dolch (Villisca)
• District 9: Jeff Hedges (Oakville); Brent Pacha (Richland)
• At-Large #1: Aimee Bissell (Bedford); Cole Olson (Brooklyn)
• At-Large #2: Sharon Chism (Huxley); Joe Shirbroun (Farmersburg)

"We thank all candidates for their willingness to volunteer, step up and lead," said Adam. "Farmer involvement is key to the future of ISA and our industry."

Farmers who have not received a mailed ballot by July 8 should contact ISA at 515-251-8620. Online voting is now closed. Farmers who have already submitted an online ballot will not receive a mailed ballot. Learn more about each candidate here.

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Funded by the soybean checkoff.

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