Back to the Future

Michael Dolch Director of Public Affairs, Iowa Soybean Association

We all have a favorite movie that’s loud and raucous. A film that’s less about depth and more about delivering a great time. You know the kind, those that simply leave you spinning around with a giddy smile on your face no matter how many times you watch.

For me, it’s “Back to the Future.” I will argue it’s the best movie of all time. Yep, the BEST blockbuster ever made. Now before you pick up the phone, call the office and tell me about its imperfections, point out its plot holes lecture me on how time travel doesn’t work, please hear me out.

I’ll agree that it’s a weird little science-fiction comedy, but from start to finish, the Oscar-nominated screenplay is a marvel. The plot structure is an elaborate concoction that winds itself as tight as possible before unleashing all the pent-up energy in a wonderful wallop.

One of the greatest, most overlooked things about “Back to the Future” is how the storyline is centered on the idea of running out of time. Almost everything is a ticking clock – counting down to the moment when Marty McFly will be stranded forever in 1955, or even to the point when Marty will cease to exist because he’s interfered with his parents’ love story. It’s brilliant, really. Just like the soybean industry, “Back to the Future” has stood the test of time. It’s every bit as classy and clever today as it was 35 years ago.

Iowa’s consistently a top-two soybean producing state. The soybeans we grow right here in Iowa feed and fuel the world. While so many variables affect agricultural productivity, one thing is certain, we can’t grow soybeans without healthy soil. We also know that healthy soil begins with smart conservation on the farm.

I’m a millennial who grew up in a small, rural community. When I wasn’t shoveling manure, running waters or jumping hay bales on the family farm, I was hiking area trails and fishing nearby lakes. These fond memories and strong agricultural ties are why I’m so excited about

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ bold vision and priorities for our state – the Invest in Iowa Act.

Looking back, I was proud to see her sign SF512 into law in 2018, which set the stage for dedicated water quality funding and better conservation across Iowa. Even then, we knew it was a gateway to something bigger. The Invest in Iowa Act is that something. It’s a game-changing proposal that would fund a constitutionally protected trust to ensure our state’s natural resources are preserved. It isn’t just about today or tomorrow, but rather the decades ahead.

With the last calendar day of the state legislative session less than a month away, the clock is ticking, just as it was for Marty in “Back to the Future.” As the session winds down, so does the opportunity for action. Let’s band together as Iowans to improve our state’s resources, outdoor recreation and water quality. Let’s not strand ourselves in the present, but rather unleash Iowa’s conservation potential and recreation benefits for generations to come.

MDolch@iasoybeans.com