By Blake Jackson
Wisconsin soybean farmers now have a stronger voice in shaping national Soy Checkoff priorities following the election of Wisconsin farmer Tony Mellenthin to the Executive Committee of the United Soybean Board (USB).
The new leadership was announced during the board’s December meeting in St. Charles, Missouri. Brent Gatton of Bremen, Kentucky, was elected chair and will guide the board’s work over the upcoming fiscal year. Mellenthin joins Gatton and nine other farmer-leaders from across the country on the executive committee, representing Wisconsin.
“Being nominated and elected by my peers to serve on the executive committee at the United Soybean Board is an honor I am blessed to have,” said Mellenthin, who farms with his father near Eau Galle. “With this honor comes both the opportunity and the duty to ensure the board operates with the best interests of the 500,000 U.S. soybean farmers that we represent.”
As an executive committee member, Mellenthin will play a key role in guiding FY26 Soy Checkoff investments across areas including food, feed, fuel, industrial uses, exports, and sustainable production. These investments aim to increase demand for U.S. soy, improve on-farm resilience, and help farmers remain competitive in the global market.
Mellenthin noted that his election demonstrates opportunities for farmers from all states to step into leadership roles. “Being from a smaller soybean state, one that isn’t even top 10 for production, shows that the pathway to leadership is not reserved for the top producers,” he said. “Any farmer with the intent of representing the best interests of U.S. soybean farmers has the opportunity to serve, regardless of the production capacity of the state they farm in.”
The United Soybean Board consists of 77 volunteer farmer-leaders who oversee Soy Checkoff investments on behalf of nearly 500,000 U.S. soybean farmers. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight under the federal Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act.
Photo Credit: wisconsin-soybean-marketing-board
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Soybeans, Government & Policy