Minnesota Soybean continues to make a splash on the national stage.

At this year’s National Agri-Marketing Awards (NAMA) awards, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) were both recognized for marketing and communications projects across several categories.

In total, MSR&PC and MSGA combined to win five awards, an organization record.

“I enjoy watching this team learn, grow and evolve,” Council CEO Tom Slunecka said. “We’re really hitting our stride as a company, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.” 

Staff was also spotlighted. Director of Marketing Kristeena Thisius was honored with the Next Gen NAMA award, which is awarded to up to four individuals under age 35 and are recognized as the next generation of marketing leaders with a bright future in the industry.  

“Being nominated, awarded and recognized as the Next Gen NAMA award recipient is truly humbling,” Thisius said. “But this award goes beyond just me. We have a great team who continue to want to learn and grow. I am honored to celebrate this success with them.” 

The Council nabbed first-place honors for the Stepping Up: From farm to frontline campaign and the 2022 “Future of Soybeans” retreat, which brought together farmer directors, emerging leaders and checkoff-supported researchers and focused on forging connections, addressing challenges and finding new ideas. 

Soybean Business, MSGA’s official magazine, earned the merit award in the “Company and Association Magazines – External” category. The bimonthly magazine reaches 23,000 farmers, industry professionals and legislators. It was the magazine’s first national award since its publishing debut in 2002.

“We’ve been knocking on the door for a long time with Soybean Business,” Art Director Doug Monson said. “To finally break through among our peers was a great honor.” 

The Council also earned merit awards for Minneline, a weekly e-newsletter co-published with MSGA that is distributed to over 4,000 subscribers, and the checkoff group’s 2021 Annual Report.

Both MSR&PC and MSGA’s daily operations are overseen by Ag Management Solutions, an association management company that helps small and medium-sized companies with limited staff have a meaningful impact. AMS is owned by MSR&PC and MSGA.