Summer is officially in full swing, and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) invites growers and industry partners to secure a tee time for the annual Biodiesel Open Golf Event by July 25. This is the perfect shot to showcase your golf skills (or improve them) while supporting MSGA’s year-round advocacy efforts in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.

The tournament tees off Monday, Aug. 18 at the Crow River Golf Club in Hutchinson.

Attending or sponsoring Biodiesel Open gives back to farmers and the communities around Minnesota with the funds supporting MSGA efforts to engage with lawmakers, regulatory agencies and stakeholders on behalf of soybean farmers.

“The Biodiesel Open is a fantastic event that we’ve done for years that focuses on the promotion and education of biodiesel,” MSGA President Darin Johnson said. “Gathering for a round of golf is a way to bring farmers and industry professionals together for a day to talk about biodiesel and make connections.”

Thanks to Minnesota’s leadership in becoming the first state to adopt B20 (20% biodiesel) in the summer months, biodiesel brings over 5,000 full-time jobs to the state. In total, the biodiesel industry has a $1.7 billion economic impact on Minnesota GDP with a $676 million in farm-level impact. For farmers, biodiesel is estimated to add more than $1 to every bushel of soybeans and increase demand by 13%.

Executive Director Joe Smentek (left) joins MSGA’s lobbying team for a day on the links at the 2024 Biodiesel Open

MSGA is a proactive voice for Minnesota soybean farmers ensuring that farm-friendly policies are helping improve on-farm profitability. The nonpartisan organization represents nearly 26,000 soybean farmers with a 40-person board of grower leaders representing counties across the state. In addition to prioritizing biodiesel, the board is also focused on other initiatives such as:

• Promoting soybean oil as a feedstock in the sustainable aviation fuel market
• Tax reform
• Protecting crop inputs and lowering the cost production
• Supporting improvement of transportation and rural infrastructure
• Diversifying markets
• Keeping farmers on the land

Learn more about MSGA’s legislative priorities by clicking here. To become a member of MSGA, click here.

Registration is now open for Biodiesel Open. The cost is $130 per person or $500 for 4-person team. The registration fee covers 18 holes, cart, dinner and drink tickets. The deadline to register is July 25. Sponsorship opportunities are also available at mnsoybean.org/MSGA/golf-events/ or contact Erin Rossow at erin.rossow@agmgmtsolutions.com.

Date:
Monday, Aug. 18

Location:
Crow River Golf Club
915 Colorado St. NW
Hutchinson, MN 55350

Cost:
$130 per golfer/ $500 4-person team

Schedule:
11 a.m. Registration
Noon Shotgun start
5 p.m. Dinner

Registration deadline:
Friday, July 25