Several times during the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) Delegate Session at the 2025 Commodity Classic, delegates were asked to stand or sit in support or opposition to a proposed policy resolution.

The nearly 20 delegates representing the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) stood (or sat, depending on the resolution) as one team, one voice.

The sum is greater than the parts.

“That’s our mindset: We’re all together and all on the same page by the end of the resolution process,” MSGA President Darin Johnson said. “At the end of the day, we all have individual viewpoints, but we come here to Classic to represent Minnesota farmers and it’s our duty to stay united.”

Finalizing ASA’s resolutions is a fluid process that evolves across months of discussions among growers across ASA’s 26-member states. The day before the Delegate Session, MSGA gathered with a State Caucus with neighboring states, along with New York, to discuss policies to bring to the full Delegate Session. MSGA’s entire officer team, including Johnson, Vice President Ryan Mackenthun, Treasurer Rose Wendinger and Secretary Kyle Jore, were all present, along with Minnesota’s six ASA directors and other farmer leaders.

“That’s grassroots policy at its core,” Johnson said. “Everyone has a voice, and for us, it starts at the county level all the way to the federal level.”

On March 2, nearly 200 farmer leaders from across the nation approved ASA’s 2025 resolutions, which serve as a federal policy roadmap for the year ahead.

Resolutions across farm-related priority areas included:

• Farm income support programs (including a reaffirming of support for the Commodity Credit Corporation)
• Crop insurance
• Livestock and aquaculture
• Biobased products
• Infrastructure
• Research and conservation
• Trade
• Taxes
• Biofuels

ASA’s 2025 resolution will be available online later in March.

“I’m very fortunate to work alongside such a dedicated group of advocates,” MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek said. “I greatly appreciate how involved all our delegates are in the resolution process. They’re passionate about policy and advocating for our farm economy.”

‘E-Cap’ rollout coming

Amid the backdrop of potential trade wars with three of agriculture’s largest trading partners (Canada, China and Mexico), MSGA directors had a front row seat (literally) to welcome new USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins to the packed Trade Show Stage at Commodity Classic. The Texas native has roots in Minnesota, spending summers on her grandparents’ family farm in Sherburne County. When Rollins asked the capacity crowd if there were any Minnesotans in attendance, raucous cheers ensued.

During her 30-minute remarks, the secretary promised, under her leadership, that USDA would be available “24 hours a day, seven days a week” to producers. Rollins also announced details on the $10 billion in economic assistance package passed by Congress in December 2024. (lawmakers also included $20 billion in disaster aid). Applications for the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (aka E-CAP) will be available prior to the March 20 deadline, although a potential government shutdown could put a snag in the program’s rollout.

“I have asked my team to think creatively about how to develop a streamlined application process,” Rollins said. “We don’t want to be your bottleneck.”

Prior to her speech, Rollins also met with commodity groups, including ASA.

“It was an honor to hear Sec. Rollins speak,” said MSGA and ASA Director Bob Worth. “It’s clear she understands the concerns of the ag community.”

Future forward

Commodity Classic is also a unique opportunity for farmer leaders to visit with industry partners on the sprawling trade show floor. During the three-day trade show, which attracted more than 11,000 attendees, MSGA directors visited Bayer, Corteva Agriscience and Beck’s to discuss ongoing partnerships and collaborations to advocate for protecting crop inputs.

“We’re very grateful for the industry support and appreciate the ongoing dialogue with MSGA,” said Mackenthun, who was also recognized for completing the Ag Leader Source program during Commodity Classic.

Two of Minnesota’s delegates, Raymond DeMars and Rebecca Sip, attended Classic to complete the second phase of ASA Corteva’s Young Leader Program. Both said they found the experience valuable. DeMars, who joined MSGA for its state Hill Visits in February 2025, said he’s applying to participate in the third portion, which takes place during ASA’s July Hill Visits in Washington, D.C.

“I’ve really enjoyed connecting with newer directors in the Young Leader Program and the more experienced directors (on MSGA),” DeMars said. “The third phase seems like a great opportunity to continue to build my leadership skills.”

On the final day of Classic, Vice President Ryan Mackenthun was once again recognized with the Ag Leader Source Award, an online leadership development program.

Upon returning home to Minnesota to prepare for the upcoming growing season, ASA directors and Johnson have a quick turnaround until their next national advocacy efforts. Growers will gather March 18-20 in Washington, D.C., for ASA board meetings and Hill Visits with Minnesota’s congressional delegation. From underscoring the devastating economic damage caused by trade wars to pushing a new Farm Bill through Congress, farmer leaders will have a full slate of issues to discuss with lawmakers.

“Whether we’re advancing biofuels or protecting our trade partnerships, we’re looking toward the future,” Johnson said.