Illinois Soybean Growers:
Voice For Illinois Soy; Advocate For Illinois Farmers By Mace Thornton
While Illinois soybean farmers are working to wrap up the 2023 harvest season, Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG), the voluntary membership organization that advocates for Illinois soybean farmers, is still planting the seeds of membership growth. As the result of a vigorous year-round engagement campaign, ISG is eyeing a bountiful yield of new members who want to make their voices heard. This year, ISG membership increased by 55 percent, elevating the organization to new heights and transforming it in terms of influential visibility among state and federal policymakers. By virtue of her position as ISA’s Engagement Manager, Ashley Barry has been at the forefront of the organization’s skyrocketing membership growth. Yet, she is quick to humbly credit collaboration from leaders and engaged members, as well as the entire ISA staff – from Communications and Agronomy to Market Development and Government Relations – for organizational growth. “This collaboration has been the lifeblood of the organization,” Barry said. “It’s not just the vision of one person but a collective effort to redefine what action through ISA and ISG looks like. Our staff’s dedication and cross-departmental collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. This has undoubtedly been a team effort. We are all working together toward one goal, and our goal is to exceed the expectations of Illinois soy producers." “We’re working to bring a regular schedule of new engagement opportunities for our membership,” she said. “We want to create opportunities for you as a member and one of those ways has been bringing policymakers to our doorstep. We've done things that weren't done in the past because the organization was so small. Now, we have over (See Voice For Illinois Soy, page 6) ISA has visited Washington, D.C., along with Illinois farmers, numerous times to speak with legislators about legislation affecting our farmers.
December 2023
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