(Front row, left to right): Jamie Beyer, MN; Derek Helms, AR; Don Holbert, TN; Laura Peterson, Syngenta; and Greg Gussiaas, ND. (Back row, left to right): Ron Moore, ASA Chairman, IL; Ryan Rhoades, OH; Tim Bardole, IA; Andy Alford, KY; James Hereford, AL; Tony Mellenthin, WI; Brett Medlin, N.C.; Jim Martin, IL; and Gip Carter, MS.

Farmers from 13 states graduated from the 2017-18 American Soybean Association (ASA) Leadership At Its Best program this week in Washington, D.C. The Leadership At Its Best program is sponsored by Syngenta and develops leadership, communication and advocacy skills in farmers who have already shown potential to be strong leaders through the positions they hold on their state soybean association boards.This select group of farmer-leaders participated in the first part of the Leadership At Its Best training this past summer in Minneapolis, Minn.This week, their training focused on how to advocate, in Washington, on issues important to soybean farmers. The class participants concluded their trip with a day of Hill visits with their state associations.

Leadership At Its Best Program participants are nominated by their state soybean association. This year’s class participants included: James Hereford, Gurley, AL; Derek Helms, Arkadelphia, AR; Jim Martin, Pontiac, IL; Tim Bardole, Rippey, IA; Andy Alford, Bowling Green, KY; Jamie Beyer, Wheaton, MN; Gip Carter, Rolling Fork, MS; Brett Medlin, Indian Trail, NC; Gregg Gussiaas, Carrington, ND; Ryan Rhoades, Prospect, OH; Joshua Kayser, Emery, SD; Don Holbert, Dandridge, TN and Tony Mellenthin, Menomonie, WI.

ASA appreciates the continued support provided by Syngenta that makes this valuable leadership program possible. ASA will be reaching out to state soybean associations soon to begin collecting nominations for the 2018-19 class. For more information, contact Michelle Hummel in the ASA office at mhummel@soy.org.