Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Wednesday the appointment of 19 members and 3 alternate members to serve on the United Soybean Board (USB), one of which hails from Minnesota.

Longtime Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) Director Lawrence Sukalski, of Fairmont, Minn., has been named to serve a three-year term for USB. Sukalski also spent nine years serving on the American Soybean Association board of directors, where he termed off this year.

“It’s going to be an honor to serve our farmers and work on the research and promotion side of soybeans,” Sukalski said. “We’re all humbled by this great checkoff machine we have going, and I am proud to be a part of an organization where we can continue to open new markets, explore new technologies and find new uses for soybeans.”

Sukalski, who got his volunteer start on the Martin County Corn and Soybean Growers Association board before joining MSGA, says the experience will be different, yet the same.

“It’ll be a new leaf for me” he said, “and it’ll be interesting. But it won’t be completely new to me since I have been serving farmers in Minnesota for a long time. I think what we need to be doing is promoting the checkoff and all the wonderful things the soybean checkoff is doing to improve farmer profitability.”

Joining Sukalski in receiving nominations from Sec. Perdue to serve three year terms are:

• Annie Dee, Aliceville, Ala.
• Robert Stobaugh, Atkins, Ark.
• Gary Berg, Saint Elmo, Ill.
• Tom Griffiths, Kendallville, Ind.
• Thomas E. Oswald, Cleghorn, Iowa
• Larry K. Marek, Riverside, Iowa
• Dennis Gruenbacher, Andale, Kan.
• Keith N. Tapp, Sebree, Ky.
• Belinda Burrier, Union Bridge, Md.
• Herb Miller, Niles, Mich.
• Philip Good, Macon, Miss.
• Lewis Rone, Pontageville, Mo.
• Mike Korth, Randolph, Neb.
• Dave Dotterer, Rittman, Ohio
• Ellie W. Green, Jr., Lynchburg, S.C.
• Marc V. Reiner, Tripp, S.D.
• David Nichols, Ridgely, Tenn.
• Andrew W. Scott, Jr., Monte Alto, Texas
• Colt Clemmons, Killen, Ala. Alternate
• Fitzhugh Bethea, Dillon, S.C. Alternate
• Daniel C. Berglund, Wharton, Texas Alternate

“I truly appreciate the time and expertise that these individuals have agreed to provide, and know U.S. soybean producers will be well served by these men and women,” Perdue said.

USB’s board is composed of 73 members representing 29 states and Eastern and Western regions.  To become a member, you must be a soybean producer and be nominated by a qualified state soybean board.

The board is authorized by the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Information Act.  It became effective July 9, 1991, when the Soybean Promotion and Research Order was implemented.