The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) is governed by a board of 24 volunteer farmer-directors plus seven non-voting ex-officio board members who meet throughout the year to develop ISA’s programs. Farmer directors are elected by Indiana soybean farmers in June by vote and take office to begin their term in November. The directors volunteer their time to improve opportunities for Indiana soybean farmers through checkoff investments and advocating for legislation and policies that support Indiana soybean farmers.
There are two volunteer directors for each of Indiana’s four districts up for election each year. Candidate applications were due in February, and elections in contested districts will be held during the month of June by ballots sent to every soybean farmer residing in that district. Board members are elected to a three-year term and can serve three consecutive terms.
2026 Election Information
You are eligible to vote if you are a soybean producer and have paid into the Indiana soybean checkoff in the last two years; reside in the district you are voting; and are the single vote casted under your farm entity.
Voting occurred in District 1. Ballots were sent to farmer members in that district during the week of May 4 and ballots were due by June 30.
Here are the candidates up for election in each of these districts:
District 1
District 1 includes these counties: Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Elkhart, Fulton, Howard, Jasper, Kosciusko, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Miami, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Starke, St. Joseph, Tipton, Wabash, and White. View District 1 on a map here.
Seeking first term
Monty Henderson
Monty Henderson of Sharpsville, Ind, seeks his first term on the ISA board. He grows soybeans, high oleic soybeans and corn in Tipton and Howard counties and has farmed since 1981. He also owns a small commercial trucking fleet and works with his son Austin’s agribusiness, Henderson Ag Advantage. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University and a graduate certificate in public management from TUPUT. Henderson retired from Purdue University in 2024. He serves as a Tipton County Redevelopment Commissioner and sits on the IU Kokomo School of Business Advisory Board.
Seeking re-election
Kevin Kelley
Kevin Kelley of Brookston, Ind., seeks a third term on the ISA board. He grows soybeans, corn and popcorn on his farm in White and Tippecanoe counties. A full-time farmer since 1999, Kelley earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Purdue University in ag engineering. In addition to the farm, he owns Kelley Engineering LLC, where he serves as a Ag Leader, Chem Farm and Precision Planting dealer. Kelley is a past board member of the White County Ag Association and the White County Farm Bureau. He and his wife, Amy, have three children.
Seeking first term
Woody Nichols
Woody Nichols of Frankfort, Ind., seeks his first term on the ISA board. He produces soybeans, corn, hay, timber, cattle, pigs and goats on his farm in Carroll, Clinton and Tippecanoe counties. Nichols is a full-time farmer who started his livestock business in 2009, and he added row crops in 2023. Nichols also operates Prairie View Ag Supply, a farm-based retail business that sells feed, show supplies and livestock equipment locally and online. He operates Nichols Land and Livestock along with his wife, Kayla, and he farms with Gary Gangwer.
Seeking first term
Mark Parkman
Mark Parkman of Westville, Ind., seeks his first term on the ISA board. He grows soybeans, other crops and cattle on his farm in LaPorte and Porter counties. In addition to the farm, Parkman operates several businesses including excavation, mini-storage, housing, commercial rentals and billboards. He is also affiliated with several local organizations including his county Farm Bureau board, a school board, an area redevelopment commission, a county fair board, and Parkman serves on U.S, Rep. Frank Mrvan’s Ag Advisory Council. He began farming in 2000, and he works along with his wife, Nancy.
Seeking first term
Joshua Redding
Joshua Redding of Frankfort, Ind., seeks his first term on the ISA board. He works as a Beck’s seed dealer along with Redding Farms Ag Service, offering plant nutrition, equipment, parts and custom application. Redding has been managing farm operations for 10+ years and farms with his father, uncle, and brother. He is active on the Clinton County Farm Bureau board and earned both a bachelor’s degree in ag sales and marketing and an associates degree in agronomy from Purdue. He wants to learn more about the soybean checkoff and have a voice in how checkoff dollars are spent.
Voting Information
Ballots for District 1 election will be sent in the mail the week of May 4 to every soybean farmer residing in District 1. Ballots must be postmarked by June 30, 2026.
Questions? Send an email to elections@incornandsoy.org.
What does the ISA Board do?
- Manages and conducts the business of the Indiana Soybean Alliance
- Upholds certain standards of conduct including duty of care, duty of loyalty, duty of obedience, and duty of transparency.
- Attends quarterly board meetings (typically held in November, March, June and August). These meetings are required and are two days in length. Most meetings will be held at the ISA office in Indianapolis.
- Participates in trade missions, work with the media, represent ISA at events and meetings.
- Serves on ISA committees each year. These committees lead the staff members’ work and provide direction regarding board decisions. The committees typically meet at the same time as Board meetings.
- Invests as an Advocate Member if choosing to serve on the Membership and Policy Committee.
