FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISA District Director Applications Available for Qualified Producers
BLOOMINGTON, ILL – April 7, 2020 — The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) seeks applications from highly motivated and qualified candidates to fill board seats representing Districts 1, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 13 that are up for election this year.
Paul Rasmussen (District 1) and Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare (District 12) will term off the board during ISA’s July 2020 board meeting. Mark Read (District 5), Tom Kentner (District 7), Ron Kindred (District 9) and Ed Murphy (District 13) are eligible for re-election. The Illinois Department of Agriculture directs the election process. Open positions include:
- District 1: Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Winnebago
- District 5: Fulton, Knox, Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Tazewell
- District 7: Ford, Iroquois, Vermilion
- District 9: Cass, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon
- District 12: Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Pike, Scott
- District 13: Bond, Fayette, Marion, Montgomery
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) represents the interests of more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois through the state soybean checkoff and membership efforts. ISB, which is one of the entities of the ISA organization, manages and invests Illinois soybean checkoff funds.
Board members serve a term of three years and are eligible for up to two terms. The ISA board is comprised of 18 district directors and six at-large directors.
Eligibility to serve requires candidates be Illinois residents of legal voting age that contribute to the soybean checkoff. Candidates must also be residents within the district and maintain eligibility during their term(s). Directors may need to devote about 24 days per year, depending on level of leadership and representation needs.
Petitions are available through the Illinois Department of Agriculture in Springfield, or by contacting ISA representative Dustin Scott at 309-808-3603 or scottd@ilsoy.org. Contact Scott with questions or for additional information.
To have your name placed on the ballot, petitions must be completed and filed with the Illinois Department of Agriculture Acting Director Jerry Costello in Springfield no later than 5 p.m., May 15, 2020. A candidate’s petition must carry the signatures of at least 250 of the qualified producers from the district where the candidate seeks office, or five percent, whichever is less. Any person running as a write-in candidate must also meet the eligibility requirements and submit a Declaration of Intent to the director no later than 5 p.m., June 30, 2020.
Elections will be held July 7, 2020.
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) represents more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois through the state soybean checkoff and membership efforts. The checkoff funds market development, soybean production and profitability research, promotion, issues management and analysis, communications and education. Membership and advocacy efforts support Illinois soybean farmer interests in local areas, Springfield and Washington, D.C. ISA programs are designed to ensure Illinois soy is the highest quality, most dependable, sustainable and competitive in the marketplace. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org.
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For more information contact:
Rachel Peabody
peabodyr@ilsoy.org
309-808-3617
