Directors, members and staff of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 31, for the 2009 Soy Day on the Hill, filling the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol with displays and information about ISA’s many programs.
The event highlighted the association’s 45th anniversary, with t-shirts and hats given out. As a kickoff to April, which is Soyfoods Month, lunch was served to more than 325 people. The menu featured tofu-stuffed pasta shells, edamame and corn salad, a chai soy latte and SoyJoy bars, all of which earned rave reviews.
One goal of the day was to show legislators and other patrons the breadth of important issues ISA is currently working on, including the environmental program, production research, biodiesel, soy transportation, On-Farm Network® research, and international marketing, as well as Acres of Giving to fight hunger and the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program.
“Soy Day on the Hill is a great opportunity for Iowa leaders to see firsthand the variety and value of soy products as well as the variety and value of services offered by the Iowa Soybean Association,” said Carol Balvanz, ISA director of policy and producer outreach.
Participants felt the day also offered an important opportunity for two-way communication. ISA Director Jim Andrew of Jefferson said, “It was a very successful day. In addition to visiting with legislators we already knew, this was an opportunity to meet new ones and to visit over lunch.
“ISA is dedicated to increasing profitability for soybean producers and wisely investing their checkoff dollars. This day is about helping increase awareness of those efforts and provides a chance to visit about how we can be helpful,” Andrew added. “We heard many kudos for ISA. We have established a good reputation. It’s important to build on that because it makes both the government’s and ISA’s jobs easier to promote Iowa agriculture.”
In addition, nine current and former participants in ISA’s Ag-Urban Leadership Initiative were on hand to share their experiences and perspectives with both ISA leaders and legislators.
Cindi Grover of Elma is both an ISA director and a participant in the Ag-Urban Leadership Initiative. “This has been both an educational and motivational experience,” Grover said. “We had an awesome turnout from members of the Ag-Urban class. It’s great that they took time to be here.”
To learn more about ISA, visit its Web site at www.iasoybeans.com.
The Iowa Soybean Association develops policies and programs that help farmers expand profit opportunities while promoting environmentally sensitive production using the soybean checkoff and other resources. The Association is governed by an elected volunteer board of 21 farmers.