Giving back to the community is a top priority for the Yellow Medicine County Corn and Soybean Growers Association. Growers showed their gratitude for their community Oct. 17 at the longest family-owned business in Canby, Independent Oil Company. They hosted a fueling event during a 90 Years of Service Celebration of Independent Oil while also educating the public on the vital role of biofuels in their community and beyond. 

“We thought it was a good time to promote the biodiesel industry and bring support to the soybean industry,” said Board Director Steve Brusven, who represents Yellow Medicine County on the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. “The event was received very well by the community, and it was a great way to celebrate the anniversary.”

Yellow Medicine County farmer Steve Brusven is a true believer in biodiesel.

Minnesota is the only state that holds the B20 minimum blending requirement in the summer and B5 blending requirement in the winter months. As a result, thanks to advocacy from MSGA and checkoff investments from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Minnesota proves to be a leader in the biofuels industry by cleaning Minnesota’s air and improving the state’s economy. Today, Minnesota’s adoption of B20 adds nearly $1.7 billion toward the state’s economy and boosts demand for soybeans by 13%. Using a B20 blend in the summer and a B5 blend in the winter equates to removing the emissions from nearly a quarter-million vehicles from state roads every year.

“If it wasn’t for the Minnesota checkoff, we wouldn’t have a biofuels industry,” Minnesota farmer and United Soybean Board Director Gene Stoel said. “Minnesota soybean farmers were the ones who proved biodiesel works.”

To keep the conversation going, the board worked to tell consumers the importance of biodiesel in Minnesota and the U.S, and also offered a discount of 20 cents per gallon to help celebrate Minnesota’s biodiesel success across two decades.

“We wanted to get our names and voices out there to show that we are doing something as soybean producers and as a soybean board, as well as to show our presence in the community,” Brusven said.