Four new Indiana Soybean Alliance board members needed in 2026

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Soybean Alliance is seeking farmer leaders to join its 24-member board responsible for investing Indiana’s soybean checkoff funds.

Due to four board members who are scheduled to complete their third term, at least four of the eight available seats will be filled by new farmers during this year’s election in June.

The ISA board directs programs that develop new markets for Indiana soybeans, create value for the state’s soybean growers, engage farmers in events and support their environmental, social and economic sustainability efforts.

The ISA Board of Directors represent approximately 20,000 Indiana soybean farmers who fund the checkoff program and manage soybean farmer investments. Applications for the election are due Feb. 27.

In District 1, incumbent ISA Chair Denise Scarborough of LaCrosse will complete her third and final term and cannot seek reelection. Kevin Kelley of Brookston is up for election for his third term.

District 1 includes Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Elkhart, Fulton, Howard, Jasper, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Lake, Marshall, Miami, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke, Tipton, Wabash and White counties.

In District 2, incumbent C.J. Chalfant of Hartford City will term off the board. Steve Phares, a farmer from Albion is up for election for his third term.

District 2 includes Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Huntington, Jay, LaGrange, Madison, Noble, Randolph, Steuben, Wayne, Wells and Whitley counties.

In District 3, Mark Legan of Coatesville and Derika Lynam-Spaetti of Richland will finish their third terms, making both seats available.

District 3 includes Clay, Daviess, Dubois, Fountain, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Pike, Posey, Putnam, Spencer, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren and Warrick counties.

Both District 4 candidates, Chris Eck of Boggstown and Roger Wenning of Greensburg are up for reelection for their second terms.

District 4 counties are Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Decatur, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Hendricks, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Switzerland, Union and Washington.

Each candidate must meet these requirements:

• Has paid into the federal soybean checkoff within the last two years.

• Certify ownership or share ownership and risk of loss of soybeans.

• Complete a director expectation statement and return it to ISA by Feb. 27.

Visit www.incornandsoy.org/ISAelection to learn more about serving as an ISA director or to download a director expectation statement. Send an email to Amber Myers at amyers@indianasoybean.com for more details.

ISA will distribute election ballots to soybean farmers by mail this spring and announce election results this summer.