Gene Stoel is having an eventful week.

On Wednesday, he was appointed to the United Soybean Board in St. Louis. A day earlier, Stoel was elected president of the North Central Soybean Research Program in Ankeny, Iowa.

“It’s a privilege to oversee checkoff funds on behalf of Minnesota farmers,” says Stoel, who lives in Lake Wilson, Minn. “To me, as a farmer, I like having a say in directing the funds of the checkoff.”

After serving as a longtime board member, Stoel was elected president of the NCSRP, a 12-state collaboration that invests soybean checkoff via university research and extension. Stoel says his goal is to keep the NCSRP on a forward path with a focus on innovation and profitability

“I’ve got a lot of work to do and some pretty big shoes to fill at the NCSRP,” says Stoel, who’s replacing Cliff Mulder. “I get so much back being part of this organization. For one thing, it’s different from other organizations in that it’s non-political. And for me, being a part of the NCSRP has been good for my operation. That’s certainly been a reward.”

Jim Willers of Beaver Creek, Minn., was also reappointed to USB, which celebrates 25 years of the checkoff program this year.

“Over the past twenty-five years, the USB and the checkoff have done so much for soybean farmers,” Stoel says. “With my role at the NCSRP, I hope to continue looking at research, and improving the bottom lines of soybean growers. That’s always been my motivation.”