Bob Worth was confused when Joe Smentek, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA), insisted he attend a biofuels panel Aug. 16 in Minneapolis alongside congressional leaders, USDA officials and Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen.
“I said, ‘Bob, it’s important. Congresswoman (Angie) Craig really wants you there,’” Smentek said. “He knew we already had some directors there and didn’t understand why he needed to attend.”
Indeed, Worth wasn’t too jazzed about driving nearly 200 miles from his farm in Lake Benton to Minneapolis after returning home from MSGA’s board meeting in Duluth.
“I was wondering, “Why are you calling me to go up here on a Friday? I’ve got a lot of things to do and I’m not MSGA president anymore,’” Worth said, laughing. “Finally, I said, ‘Well, OK, I’ll go.”
Worth, who served four years as MSGA president and currently represents Minnesota on the American Soybean Association, was sure glad he made the trek. Following a panel discussion with stakeholders on “Investing in the American Bioeconomy,” Rep. Craig approached Worth with a plaque signifying his inclusion in the Congressional Record Index. It’s a rare honor that Rep. Craig rarely bestows.
“Now my great grandchildren, when they want to see what I did, they can go in the archives online and read about me,” Worth said, “which really is special to me.”
Worth was rendered speechless when he learned of the plaque’s magnitude.
“It’s quite an honor,” Worth said. “The tears were rolling down. For one thing, I never expected it. I was shocked.”
Rep. Craig sits on the House Agriculture Committee and has developed a working relationship with Worth and MSGA since she arrived at Congress in 2019. She delivered the tribute to Worth on the House floor earlier this year, commending him for his leadership on issues relating to biofuels and farmer mental health.
“I am thankful for our strong working relationship during his time with MSGA,” Rep. Craig said in her remarks. “Thanks to the hard work from leaders like Bob, Minnesota became the first state to require biodiesel in our fuel blends.”
Worth credited his colleagues on MSGA with creating a culture of proactive advocacy.
“I am so humbled to receive this honor,” he said, “but it is the whole MSGA team that deserves credit. We’re a well-oiled machine.”
Worth’s plaque now sits on his desk.
“I look at this plaque and think, really? Did that just happen?” he said.
Earlier in the meeting at the University of Minnesota, USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack announced the department is funding 160 projects in 26 states to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels that will create new market opportunities and jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. The grant funding is part of USDA’s $500 million Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).
“By expanding access to homegrown biofuels and clean energy systems, we are strengthening our energy independence, addressing the impacts of climate change and creating new market opportunities and revenue streams for American producers while bringing good-paying jobs in rural communities,” Vilsack said.
Jamie Beyer, a Wheaton farmer who represents Minnesota on the American Soybean Association, spoke about the importance of supporting policies in the 45z Clean Fuel Production Credit to ensure those credits remain available only to producers who are using U.S. feedstocks. The current structure limits revenue sources for Minnesota’s soybean farmers and gives advantages to foreign-used cooking oil which may be barely used palm oil from deforested rainforest land, Beyer told lawmakers.
“Our U.S. farmers have the lowest carbon footprint of any soybean grower in the world,” she told the pane. “We should not limit access to these markets to our family farmers. We should be embracing all climate-smart ag practices and reinvesting in our rural areas with these policies.”
Along with Smentek, MSGA President Darin Johnson also attended the meeting and visited with legislators and USDA leaders.
