ISA elects new board leadership

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois Soybean Association elected new leadership during its annual public meeting on July 29 in Champaign.

At the meeting, Bryan Severs was reelected chairman of ISA.

Severs is a third-generation farmer in Vermillion County, where his family raises corn, soybeans and cattle. He has served as ISA’s District 7 director since 2020 and previously took on additional leadership roles including treasurer and Soybean Production Committee chairman.

Severs also currently serves as chairman of U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance and as an American Soybean Association director.

“I am excited to serve a second term as chairman of the Illinois Soybean Board and continue my work on behalf of the 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois,” he said.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished over the past year to strengthen our industry, and as soybean farmers continue to navigate challenging times, it is more important than ever that that we have a strong voice in Springfield, Washington, D.C., and around the world.”

Other elected executive committee members include Brady Holst, Plymouth, vice chairman; Rob Shaffer, El Paso, treasurer; Scott Gaffner, Greenville, secretary; and Emily Lovelady, Tamaroa, assistant treasurer-secretary.

The following individuals were also elected:

• District 1 — Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb and Lee counties: Ryan Frieders, Waterman.

• District 5 — Knox, Fulton, Peoria, Tazewell, Putnam and Marshall counties: Brad Zimmerman, Groveland.

• District 7 — Iroquois, Ford and Vermilion counties: Bryan Severs, Potomac.

• District 9 — Mason, Cass, Morgan, Menard, Sangamon and Logan counties: Doug Martin, Mt. Pulaski.

• District 12 — Pike, Calhoun, Scott, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin counties: Jonathan Griffel, Gillespie.

• District 13 — Montgomery, Bond, Fayette and Marion counties: Heath Houck, Nokomis.

• At-Large — Brady Holst, Plymouth.

• At-Large — Jeff O’Connor, Kankakee.

• At-Large — Lance Tarochione, London Mills.

At the Illinois Soybean Board meeting in June, Tim Scates, Carmi, was elected District 16 director for Clay, Wayne, Richland, Edwards, Lawrence, Wabash and White counties; and Trent Maxwell, Martinsville, was elected District 14 director for Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper and Crawford counties.