This week, we’re excited to bring you our Farmer Leader Feature from Columbia, North Carolina. As a leader in our industry and a World Soy Foundation supporter, Jacob Parker is well-deserving of this spotlight feature. In Columbia, Jacob has been farming on a Century Family Farm since 1974, in addition to his son and his son’s family joining the farm. Jacob says God has blessed him over the years at times it seemed impossible to survive as a farmer yet he could still serve others in some way. Right now, he says he is only at-risk on a few acres, but he spends most of his time as an Agronomist for Black Gold Farms—a large supplier of fresh potatoes for chipping as well as other commodities.

You’ve most likely seen Jacob’s name across several local and regional Board lists, including being President of the North Carolina Foundation Seed Producers and North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, Chairman of the Tyrrell County Planning Board, county Farm Bureau Secretary, and serving as a USB Director. Jacob also spent time managing a local seed company as the start-up of “Roundup Ready” seed production began and grew into a large conditioner of seed for the major soybean seed companies.

Jacob had a special opportunity to see some of the work of the World Soy Foundation firsthand when he and his deceased wife Arnette took a trip shortly before her death to see four containers of soy flour being loaded at the port in Norfolk, Virginia to be shipped overseas for those in need of soy protein. He is thankful that he and his current wife, Dianna, can continue to be “Acre Challenge Farmers” and support the Foundation. Jacob says,

“When the Acre Challenge program was created, I felt it was a good way for soybean farmers to help those in undeveloped markets to see the value of soy in their diet. I would encourage many other farmers to see the value of the Acre Challenge and to participate.”

We want to thank YOU, Jacob, for your support of the WSF and your leadership in our industry! To join Jacob and accept the Challenge, simply calculate the value of an acre of soybeans in your operation (yield multiplied by price) and give the gift of protein today!

Donate online or send your check to: World Soy Foundation; 12125 Woodcrest Executive Drive, Suite 100; St. Louis, Mo. 63141.

Stay Connected!  Visit us at www.worldsoyfoundation.org, or on Twitter (@TheWSF), Facebook and YouTube!