Jeff Nalley

Danny Murphy

Close to 900 ASA members and supporters from across the country gathered at the ASA Awards Banquet on March 1 at Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fla. The emcee for the evening was Cromwell Ag Radio Network Farm Director Jeff Nalley and entertainment was provided by nationally recognized country music singer Michael Peterson.

ASA President Danny Murphy presented top recruiting awards to: Jim Kukowski (Minn.);Marvin Wahl (Kan.); and Tommy Hines (Va.) for their outstanding achievements in helping farmers to learn about and join ASA.

Murphy and Top Recruiter Jim Kukowski.

Murphy and Top Recruiter Marvin Wahl.

Murphy and Top Recruiter Tommy Hines.

The ASA Lifetime Achievement Award-Membership Focus was presented to Illinois farmerKent Hodel, who has worked part-time for the Illinois Soybean Association for more than two decades doing outreach and education.

The ASA Lifetime Achievement Award-Association Focus was presented to South Dakota farmer Bob Metz, an ASA past-President (2005-06) whose contributions to his state soybean association and ASA have been far-reaching and significant.

The ASA Special Meritorious Service Award was presented to Lyle Roberts, retired CEO of the Illinois Soybean Association. Roberts was part of Illinois agriculture for 40 years, helped create ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, and founded the Council on Food and Agricultural Research.

Murphy and Special Meritorious Award winner Lyle Roberts.

Murphy and Lifetime Achievement Award-Membership winner Kent Hodel.

Murphy and Lifetime Achievement Award-Association winner Bob Metz. (ASA photos by Jim Spelios)

The ASA Awards Banquet was sponsored by USB/Soy Checkoff, DuPont-Pioneer and Novozymes BioAg.