Local farmer on state's Soybean Checkoff board

Kevin Green, Greensburg Daily News, Ind.
·2 min read

Dec. 8—INDIANAPOLIS — Four newly elected board members began their service on the Indiana Soybean Alliance's Board of Directors, while a handful of directors were selected as executive officers during two days of recent meetings.

Earlier this year, four incumbents and four newcomers earned election to the state's soybean checkoff board. Two new board members filled each of the seats in Districts 2 and 3, and incumbent board members returned to service in both Districts 1 and 4.

In District 4, Seymour farmer Kevin Burbrink and Greensburg farmer Mike Koehne were re-elected. Burbrink won a second term. A full-time farmer since 1973, he grows soybeans, corn, wheat on his farm and has also grown popcorn, tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers for pickles. Koehne earned a third ISA board election. He grows corn, hay and raises cattle. A first-generation farmer, he started in 1992, and he also owns a farm drainage business.

District 4 counties include Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Decatur, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Hendricks, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Switzerland, Union and Washington.

New executive officers elected

Part of the business during the ISA board meetings on Dec. 1-2 was the process of selecting its leadership. Koehne was elected as the board chair by his peers. He takes over for Jim Douglas, who has served as the board's leader for the past year. Koehne has served in many roles during his six years on the board, including two years as the chair of ISA's Membership & Policy Committee (M&P).

Kevin Cox, a farmer from Brazil, Ind., was elected as vice chair. The new secretary is Stoller, and entering his second year as treasurer is Hartford City, Ind., farmer C.J. Chalfant. The board also selected three committee chairs. Monrovia, Ind., farmer Keevin Lemenager will lead the M&P Committee; LaGrange, Ind., farmer Carey McKibben will lead the Market Development Committee; and Denise Scarborough of LaCrosse, Ind., will lead the Sustainability and Value Creation Committee for a second year.

"Between the young farmers just joining our board and the veteran board members who are returning, we have a really good group to lead this organization," Koehne said. "I'm excited for this next year. I'm excited for the things we're going to accomplish in the next 12 months." — Information provided