The Board of Directors for the American Soybean Association announces the confirmation of John Long from Newberry, South Carolina, as the Association's new Chairman, and David Erickson from Altona, Illinois, as the Association's new President. The Board also elected Mark Berg from Tripp, South Dakota, as First Vice President, Roy Bardole from Rippey, Iowa, as Secretary, and Fletcher Clark from Ruleville, Mississippi, as Treasurer. The Board also elected four Vice Presidents, who are Mike Yost from Murdock, Minnesota, Richard Jameson from Brownsville, Tennessee, Elmer Davis from Haviland, Kansas, and Kim Larson from Willmar, Minnesota. These nine officers form the Executive Committee for the Association. The election was held on Saturday, August 3, during the Association's scheduled meeting of its Board of Directors.

Erickson, the new ASA President, told the Directors, "Improving communications throughout the organization is one of my primary goals. ASA has found it's very important to keep our state affiliates involved, particularly when we are moving legislative iniatives forward." Erickson farms in North-West-Central Illinois, with half of his crop acres devoted to soybeans and the other half to corn. Erickson added, "I believe ASA must continue to develop leadership programs for Board members, and other farmer leaders, throughout the Association." Erickson chaired the ASA Public Affairs Committee which this year was successful in raising the soybean loan level provision in the 1996 Farm Bill.

Mark Berg, who will become the President of the Association next year, told the Directors, "I will work to improve the effectiveness of the Association out in the countryside and in Washington. ASA is a grassroots organization and I believe that ASA offers producers a chance to make a difference and have some fun while they are doing it." Berg was President of the South Dakota Soybean Association for two years (1988/89 & 1989/90), and has served as an ASA Board Member since 1989. Last year as Membership Chairman, Berg lead the Association's member recruitment efforts which resulted in a membership increase of more than five percent, ending the year at 29, 799. Berg farms soybeans, corn and wheat with his family and has been a member of the ASA since 1980. He also operates Berg Ag Services, Inc. which retails custom crop protection chemical, feed, seed and extruded soybeans, and he is past National Vice President of the Jaycees.

New members on the ASA Board are Tony Anderson (OH), Richard Andrews (VA), Mark Curtis (MS), Dwain Ford (IL), Roger Hadley (IN), Doug Hartz (AR), and Ron Misener (SD).

New committee assignments for ASA Board members include --

Mark Berg (SD) will chair the Public Affairs Committee with Roy Bardole (IA), John Long (SC), Doug Hartz (AR), Mark Curtis (MS), Dwain Ford (IL), Dale Doucet (LA), Bob Kruger (MN), Larry Strobel (MO), Charles Neff (OH), Steve Newberry (GA), R.D. Burnside (TX), Ron MacDougall (Canada) and a director to be named from Iowa serving as committee members.

Mike Yost (MN) will chair the Trade Policy and International Affairs Committee with Elmer Davis (KS), John McClendon (AR), John Blaska (WI), Mark Thompson (IL), Ron Misener (SD), Richard Andrews (VA), Gary Hellerich (NE), Clifford Goecker (IA), Robert Ross (OK), Don Lee (NC), Jim Long (KY), Gerald Vortman (NE), and a director to be named from the Mid-Atlantic States serving as committee members.

Kim Larson (MN) will chair the Membership Services and Corporate Relations Committee with Richard Jameson (TN), Merlyn Smeenk (SD), Gordan Wassenaar (IA), Don Korte (MI), Roger Hadley (IN), Neal Bredehoeft (MO), Dave Younkman (OH), David Fogleman (AR), Don Moffet (ND), Charles Prellwitz (WI), Don Louwagie (MN) and Carolyn Yoder (FL) serving as committtee members.

Fletcher Clark (MS) will chair the Finance and Administrative Services Committee with Darryl Brinkman (IL), Patrick Delanty (IA), Tony Anderson (OH), Philip Baum (IN), Herb Smith (MI), Robert Sublett (AL), and Ronald Gibson (MO) serving on the committee.