Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff
Celebrating Excellence:
Get to know the 2023 ISA Impact Award Recipients The Illinois Soybean Association’s Impact Awards Program honors individuals who have significantly impacted the Illinois soybean industry. This year’s slate of winners well represents the core of tomorrow’s agriculture future. As Board Chairman Steve Pitstick says, they are "leading agriculture into a new era through leadership, excellence, commitment and service.”
Chairman’s Award:
Excellence in Media Award:
Robert A. Easter, Ph.D.
Holly Spangler
The highest award given by the association, presented in appreciation of one’s dedication, leadership and years of service to the soybean industry Lucky for agriculture, Texas ranches are full of potential. “The experience of growing up on a general grain, livestock and cotton farm in Texas not only fueled my enthusiasm for a career in agriculture,” says Bob Easter, "but also provided a host of life experiences that have been foundational to any success that I have had.” In fact, as his nomination says, “Bob has dedicated his life to developing a positive future for the agriculture industry.” After earning a bachelor’s and master’s from Texas A&M University, Bob headed to the University of Illinois for a doctorate in animal science. He would become full professor, then head of the Animal Sciences Department and Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences before being named Interim Provost, Interim Chancellor and finally, President of the university. Now retired, his official title is Emeritus President And Emeritus Professor. Bob spends time with family, plus consults on ag boards and advocates for ag. “Food is fundamental to human life, and soybeans are a premier source of high-quality protein for both humans and the animals that produce meat and eggs for the human diet. The nutritional value of the other cultivated plant proteins is inferior to that of the soybean,” he says. Bob frames advocating for our industry as something that seems natural but isn’t about him. “It is an unanticipated honor, but more than that, it is an affirmation of the value of the work that I have done along with many colleagues to enhance the success of the soybean system from production to end-user.”
8 December 2023
Recognizes a member of the media who promotes Illinois soybeans and Illinois agriculture through their coverage in print, broadcast, social and beyond If agriculture had a voice, it would be Holly Spangler. An ag communicator through and through, she started at Prairie Farmer shortly before earning her Agricultural Communications degree at the University of Illinois. Twentyfive years later, she is Senior Editor for Prairie Farmer and Executive Editor for Farm Progress, which has six magazines in the Corn Belt. As her nomination says, she is one of the nation’s leading agriculture writers, a five-time winner of U.S. ag’s top writing award for editorial opinion and only the 10th U.S. agricultural journalist to earn the prestigious Writer of Merit designation. For Holly, this award is an opportunity to reflect on connections. “I really appreciate the relationship I’ve been able to have with the Illinois Soybean Association over the years,” she says. “Standing around the Farm Progress Show with Steve Pitstick talking about his operation, talking with Doug Schroeder on his farm when he was named a Master Farmer.” That, Holly says, is her why. That she does it so much better, and certainly with more enthusiasm and love for ag, doesn’t occur to her: “It’s why we do what we do, so we can share these stories with our readers of what’s happening in agriculture, but also what their associations are doing for them.” A farmer herself – she and her husband raise corn, soybeans and beef cattle – Holly has a dual appreciation for the critical role associations play in ag. “I appreciate the work the Illinois Soybean Association has done over the years and working closely with their media and communications folks.” The link with associations such as ISA makes the difference in how she accomplishes that. “At the core of it all is relationships,” she says. “The best thing about agriculture and our job in agriculture is the people, and the Illinois Soybean Staff are some of the very best.”
