Pitstick named Illinois Soybean chairman

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A Maple Park area farmer took the helm as chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association at its board meeting July 29.

Steve Pitstick was elected chairman after serving as ISA vice chair the past two years. He represents District 2 on the ISA board that includes Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kankakee, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

He and his son farm about 4,400 acres in northern Illinois that include about a 50/50 corn and soybean rotation.

“I’ve been farming for 45 years. I’m still working with Mother Nature trying to figure it out,” Pitstick said.

He holds an associate’s degree from Kishwaukee Community College and has been active previously with the Kane County Farmland Protection Commission, Kaneland Sports Boosters, Kane County Farm Bureau and his church.

Pitstick also has participated in the Illinois Ag Leadership Program, Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation, Agriculture Leaders of Tomorrow and served as a Soy Ambassador. He currently also works as an advisor to startup ag tech companies.

His first experience with ISA goes back 25 years ago as a member of the first Soy Leadership class. He joined the ISA board three years ago and has since moved through the ranks.

Pitstick was asked why he decided to get involved with ISA.

“It was that point in my life where it was time to get back involved. I had done various other things with Farm Bureau and whatever. I like being involved. I was always told that those that show up write the rules. I want to show up and write the rules,” he said.

He believes an important role for ISA as an organization is to “get the message out there of what we do.”

“We spend too much time defending what we do. We need to be more proactive in what we do — play more offense. We do a lot of good things and we need to highlight those,” Pitstick said.

Pitstick’s goal as chair is for the organization to continue investing checkoff dollars into areas that provide a high return on investment for farmers.

He also will continue building relationships with the other commodity organizations and Farm Bureau “and trying to enhance those relationships.”

“There are fewer of us, and we want to build coalitions,” Pitstick said. “Also a more outward look in the way we do things more proactive, more playing offense, on things like that.

“The messaging is always out there with the general public of what we can do as farmers whether it’s sequestering carbon or the biofuels versus fossil fuels, whatever it might be, we have a lot of possible things and we’re just trying to keep those out front.

“With an ambitious strategic plan, a committed board, and a talented staff in place, there’s a renewed energy to move the organization forward to even greater accomplishments. FY21 has been a year of significant growth for the organization and laid the foundation for unprecedented opportunities ahead.

“I’m proud to serve a board that puts our farmers at the center of our work, programs and messaging. We are working to deliver what farmers expect from their checkoff program.”

Other elected executive committee members include: Vice Chairman Ron Kindred, Treasurer Dwayne Anderson, Secretary Elliott Uphoff and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer David Wessel.

Joining the executive committee are Brad Daugherty as Government Relations Committee chair, Jim Martin as Utilization Committee chair and Scott Gaffner as Market Development Committee chair.

District directors seated include: Steve Pitstick, District 2; Elliott Uphoff, District 10; Brad Daugherty, District 14; Brian Atteberry, District 15; Nick Harre, District 17; and Matt Murray, District 11.

At-large directors seated include: Scott Gaffner and David Wessel. Two American Soybean Association representatives were also elected: Daryl Cates and Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare.

ISA has a total board of 18 district directors and six at-large directors from throughout the state who work on behalf of Illinois soybean producers and the checkoff. Each board member serves one of the following committees: Government Relations, Utilization, or Market Development.