To Engage, To Lead, To Influence: Policy organization’s new pillars 

By David Hardin, ISA Membership and Policy Committee Chair 

Earlier this year, the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) created a taskforce to look at how the organization developed policy and interacted with stakeholders while advocating on behalf of Indiana soybean farmers. Producers can face challenges from regulations that place a burden on their operations. 

The goal was to create a framework that makes the Membership and Policy Committee more proactive when it comes to the issues that affect your social license to operate. The taskforce identified three main pillars for this new framework to rest on. 

To Engage 

We want to build an organization that draws its strength from an engaged membership. We need to build relationships with our members before an issue arises that we need them to lobby on. 

Communication will be important to make members aware of opportunities to engage in their local communities, not just at the Statehouse during the legislative session. It is also important for us to look for partners throughout the value chain and strengthen those relationships. 

To Lead 

We want to be seen as the trusted authority when it comes to framing the discussion for soybean policy. The key will be having proactive and focused meetings with decision makers where they are. 

This may mean small group gatherings in district, or in the halls of the Statehouse. It is important that we don’t let other groups set the narrative for our issues. 

To Influence 

We want to promote legislative and regulatory outcomes that are in the economic best interest of soybean farmers. The organization should have grassroots members, directors, or industry partners who are ready and able to advocate in fast-moving policy environments. 

The new strategy would also include more coordination with the American Soybean Association (ASA) to engage more Indiana members in calls to action on federal issues. We also want to explore ways to help legislators who have been friends of production agriculture. 

Membership driven 

Policy priorities can change as new technologies arise, or when there is a change in administration. This is why it is important for the organization to be nimble and review policy on a regular basis. 

The M&P Committee will conduct an annual survey to make sure our policy goals and the resources to achieve them are still aligned with the will of our membership. The Committee will focus its resources on the areas that could potentially have the highest impact on soybean farmers. 

All things in this new forward-leaning strategy require resources. It is now that I must remind you that not one cent of checkoff funds can be spent on lobbying. If you are not a dues-paying member of the Indiana Soybean Alliance, I ask you to become a member. 

If you are a member but haven’t taken the step of becoming a lifetime member, I ask you to take that step. If you are a lifetime member of the organization, let me say thank you for your support; and please ask your friends and neighbors to become members.