For Lincoln County farmer Joel Schreurs, earning a position on the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s (USSEC) Executive Committee is another notch on his leadership belt and puts his expertise on agricultural trade to good use.

“I have been a longtime advocate of the soybean industry and agriculture, and I’ve been working on ag policy for trade since I started,” said Schreurs, who first became involved with Minnesota Soybean when he participated in a See For Yourself trade mission to New Orleans. “Trade can be daunting, but also very rewarding.”

In his previous role on the American Soybean Association (ASA), Schreurs sat on USSEC and helped lead the organization’s longstanding mission of building markets for U.S. across the globe. After completing his third term on ASA in December 2023, Schreurs will continue to have a voice on USSEC: During the organization’s annual meeting at Commodity Classic in Houston, Tex., he was elected to represent Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) on USSEC and will serve as secretary.

“The depth and diversity of the collective USSEC Board of Directors showcases the value and significance of U.S. Soy,” said Jim Sutter, USSEC Chief Executive Officer. “U.S. Soy exports added $39.8 billion to the U.S. economy last marketing year with record U.S. soybean meal exports of 13.2 million metric tons (MMT) valued at $6.91 billion.”

Schreurs raises soybeans, corn and alfalfa with his daughter and son-in-law in Lincoln County. He is a longtime farmer leader and sits on multiple agriculture boards, including the Lincoln County Corn & Soybean Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. In addition to nine years of advocacy with ASA, Schreurs is also a past vice chair of the Soy Transportation Coalition.

“I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” Schreurs said prior to a meeting with the Soy Excellence Center, a soy checkoff-supported program that strives to train emerging leaders in the food and agriculture supply chains in developing markets. “Exports are 60 percent of what we do, and USSEC is doing really great things to grow market access and market share across the world.”

Schreurs is also running for an open seat this spring to replace retiring District 7 Director Jim Willers on MSR&PC, a farmer-led board that implements the state’s soy checkoff program.

“The soybean industry is quite complex, and it would be very difficult to be an expert on every issue,” Schreurs said. “With that being said, my background has been in export markets and trade policy in both state and national governments. I believe my extensive background will be an asset to the Council and to my fellow soybean farmers.”