The present leadership of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is rock-solid, with an ideal mix of established directors and emerging leaders primed to represent Minnesota’s nearly 26,000 soybean farmers at the policy and regulatory levels.

And if Minnesota farmers Andrew Mages and Keeley Runge are any indication, the future is even brighter. Mages headed to Washington, D.C., for the American Soybean Association’s summer 2026 board meetings and Hill Visits after being selected to participate in the third and final portion of the prestigious ASA Corteva Young Leader Program.

“The program has been so beneficial for me personally and professionally,” Mages said. “I’ve made a lot of great friends from across the country and have learned about leading and how to advocate and effectively communicate for farmers.”

Mages had a perfect chance to put the program’s tools into practice during ASA’s July 2026 Summer Hill Visits. He joined ASA Director and past MSGA President Darin Johnson, ASA Directors Jeff Sorenson and Bob Worth and MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek for a round of policy visits with Minnesota’s congressional delegation amid the sweltering D.C. heat. Despite meeting lawmakers alongside experienced directors, Mages didn’t hesitate to speak up and tell his story as a Belgrade, Minn., family farmer who’s also maintaining a full-time job as a risk management commodity analyst and crop insurance agent.

Mages has quickly made a big impression on his new colleagues.

“We’ve had a lot of fantastic Young Leaders over the years, and Andrew ranks with the best of them,” Smentek said. “He really connected with our team through his assertiveness, preparation and ability to speak with legislators and their staff in a very professional, polished manner.”

Fortunately for MSGA, the organization can continue to tap into Mages’ expertise for years to come: As part of completing the Young Leader, he’s an at-large MSGA director, was recently elected to serve on MSGA’s governing board and is a member of the Clay-Wilkin County Corn & Soybean Growers Board.

“I really enjoyed learning the ropes on my first Hill Visit with MSGA,” said Mages, whose dad, John, recently completed a term as chair of the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council.

MSGA divided into two groups to ensure face-to-face visits with all 10 members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation. Thus, ASA Executive Committee member Jamie Beyer, MSGA Vice President Kyle Jore and ASA Director Jim Kukowksi walked the Capitol to meet with Sen. Tina Smith (likely for the final time in her office before her retirement following the Nov. 3 election), Rep. Kelly Morrison and staffers representing Reps. Ilhan Omar, Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber. Joining farmer leaders was St. James farmer Keeley Runge, who was in the nation’s capital participating in ASA’s Ag Voices of the Future program, which offers young people with farming backgrounds opportunities to learn more about farm-related policy issues and grow their advocacy skills. Runge, who’s entering her second year at South Dakota State University, leaped at a chance to enter the program. After college, she hopes to work as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill.

During her day advocating alongside some of the nation’s top farmer advocates, Runge saw how groups like MSGA are working to improve the farm economy through advocating for a range of federal priorities, including a fully funded Farm Bill, promoting biofuels, advocating for renewing the USMCA and defending the nutritional value of soybean oil.

“This was an amazing experience to be on Capitol Hill with MSGA and learn how they’re promoting legislation that will benefit Minnesota’s farm economy,” she said. “To see it all up close was a really unique opportunity.”

Runge also had the chance to visit with her congressional representative – and family friend – Brad Finstad. Upon leaving Rep. Finstad’s office, she was surprised to run into more friends: Fellow members of Minnesota’s FFA team, who were also in D.C.

Throughout the day, both MSGA teams impressed upon both legislators and their staffers the need to support policies that will jumpstart the farm economy. Those policy issues included:

• Renewing USMCA by supporting a full 16-year renewal of the trilateral trade agreement that will provide much-needed certainty for soybean farmers in two critical export markets (Canada and Mexico). The agreement currently offers duty-free treatment for soybeans and soy products.
• ASA is urging the Treasury Department to finalize 45Z Biofuel Tax Credit tax guidance to ensure the tax credit is viable through its expiration in 2029.
• Lowering input costs by removing ag input tariff exemptions, opposing countervailing duties and supporting policies promoting competition and innovation.
• Passing a comprehensive five-year Farm Bill before year’s end.
• Ensuring reliable access to crop protection tools by supporting science-based access
• Supporting edible soybean markets and highlighting soy as a healthy source of protein.

Beyond delivering priorities, MSGA makes it a point to build legislative relationships by putting a personal face behind the policy issues.

“There are a lot of complicated issues within the farm economy right now, and it’s our jobs as farmer leaders to simplify them as best we can and explain how the policies are positively and negatively affecting our family businesses,” Johnson said. “We appreciate the time our legislative leaders take out of their schedules to engage with us and learn how D.C. policies can impact us back in Minnesota.”

To close the day, both groups met with Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Joining Minnesota farmers during the Klobuchar visit was ASA President Scott Metzger.

MSGA will continue the conversation with congressional leaders at the 2026 Farmfest Aug. 4-6 in Morton.

While Mages and Runge can count on one hand the number of times they’ve walked Capitol Hill, for leaders like Bob Worth, that number has grown into the dozens over the years. Still, the privilege of representing Minnesota farmers never grows old.

“Every time I’m in D.C. talking about soybean issues on behalf of MSGA and ASA, I’m proud to be here,” Worth said. “Even when it’s 100 degrees outside.”