Corn and soybean checkoffs offer scholarships and board election details

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is accepting applications for a variety of 2022 scholarship programs. NCGA is proud to support three scholarship programs for three distinct audiences:

• Technical School/Community College Scholarship Program
• NCGA William C. Berg Academic Excellence Scholarship Program
• Graduate Student Scholarship Program “In order to ensure a strong rural economy for years to come, we must invest in the next generation of agriculture leaders,” said Membership, Communication and Engagement Action Team Chair Lowell Neitzel. “NCGA grower-members are committed to opening doors for students who are passionate about serving rural America.”
• To apply, students or a parent/guardian must be a member of the NCGA. Past scholarship winners and employees and the families of employees of any division of BASF or their subsidiaries or the NCGA are not eligible for the scholarship. The scholarship application deadline is Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. More detailed information about the 2022 Scholarship Programs can be found on NCGA.com

ASA scholarship to high school senior interested in ag

Do you know an outstanding high school senior interested in pursuing a career in agriculture? Future ag leaders are vital to the sustainability and growth of our industry, and the American Soybean Association (ASA) wants to provide one of these students a college scholarship as they begin their agriculture education.

The ASA Soy Scholarship is a $5,000 one-time award presented to a high school senior who plans to pursue agriculture as an area of study at any accredited college or university in the 2022-23 academic year. The scholarship is made possible through a grant by BASF Corporation. High school seniors may apply online Oct. 27-Dec. 31.

ASA and BASF have recognized and rewarded students for their hard work and interest in agriculture through the Soy Scholarship since 2008. The scholarship is awarded in $2,500 increments (one per semester) for the 2022-23-school year. The student must maintain successful academic progress and be in good standing with the college or university to receive the full amount of the scholarship.

Final selection will be made in January by a select committee of soybean grower-leaders. The student will be notified once the selection is made, with an official announcement to follow and a presentation scheduled in the spring.

NCGA seeks candidates for the 2023 Corn Board

Play an active role in shaping the future for U.S. farmers by stepping forward to help lead the National Corn Growers Association as a candidate for the 2023 Corn Board. The NCGA Nominating Committee is accepting applications for 2023 Corn Board candidacy from interested members. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization’s leadership.

The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising dayto-day operations. Board members serve the organization in a variety of ways. They represent the federation of state organizations, supervise the affairs and activities of NCGA in partnership with the chief executive officer and implement NCGA policy established by the Corn Congress. Members also act as spokespeople for the NCGA and enhance the organization’s public standing on all organizational and policy issues.

Applications are due Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Nominated candidates will be introduced at the 2022 Corn Congress meeting. Corn Board members will be elected at the July 2022 Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., and the new terms begin Oct. 1, 2022.

For more information, growers may contact Kathy Kimack at NCGA’s St. Louis office at 636-733-9004.

Indiana farmer elected to USB Executive Committee

Farmer-leaders of the soy checkoff elected Ralph Lott from Seneca Falls, New York, as 2022 Chair and 10 other farmerleaders to serve on the Executive Committee at the United Soybean Board (USB) meeting Dec. 7-9 in St. Charles, Mo. Walton, Ind. farmer Kevin Wilson, who is a past president of the Indiana Soybean Alliance, has been elected to the USB Executive Committee.

Wilson grows soybeans, corn, wheat and tomatoes on his farm in Cass and Howard counties. He served on the ISA board from 2008-2016, and he has been a USB director since 2014.

Other newly elected USB Executive Committee members include, Meagan Kaiser of Missouri, Ed Lammers of Nebraska, Steve Reinhard of Ohio, Tom Oswald of Iowa, Belinda Burrier of Maryland, Philip Good of Mississippi, Gary Berg of Illinois, Matt Gast of North Dakota and Past Chair Dan Farney of Illinois.