Iowa Farmer Appointed to United Soybean Board Leadership

Iowa Farmer Appointed to United Soybean Board Leadership

November 20, 2024 | Brock Johnston

Ankeny, Iowa - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has appointed an Iowa farmer to serve as a United Soybean Board (USB) director.

Suzanne Shirbroun of Farmersburg will join the board of 77 farmer directors from across the country; four representing Iowa. Shirbroun will accept her three-year appointment at a confirmation hearing in December.

"USB directors play an important role in managing soybean checkoff dollars," said Shirbroun, an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) past president. "These funds support research, education and domestic and international promotion efforts that increase demand for our soybean crop and generate return value for Iowa and U.S. soybean farmers - value that may not be possible to get otherwise."

According to the latest return-on-investment study, which is required by USDA, U.S. soybean farmers received $12.34 in added value for every dollar invested in the soy checkoff.

Shirbroun was first elected to the ISA Board of Directors in 2016, representing district 3. She and her husband Joe manage a sixth-generation diversified row crop and seed business in Clayton County. Shirbroun has been a staunch advocate of the soybean checkoff and remains a long-time participant in ISA production research activities.

"It's important that farmers know who represents them, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent U.S. soybean farmers in this new role," said Shirbroun. "I've seen firsthand how the checkoff has supported a vast amount of innovative research and other efforts that may not be possible otherwise. Balancing checkoff investments toward soybean research, new market opportunities and soy-based products will all be priorities during my term."

Shirbroun joins Brent Renner of Klemme, Robb Ewoldt of Davenport, and Tim Bardole of Rippey, as Iowa soybean farmers serving as USB directors.

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Funded by the soybean checkoff

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