On Friday, we started talking with April Hemmes, a Hampton, Iowa farmer who had spent the better part of a decade working with the United Soybean Board (USB) and has now stepped down. We talked about the growth she had seen and the improvements made both to innovation and the return on investment for the checkoff dollars.
In her work, Hemmes has had the chance to travel around the world to promote the work being done by America’s soybean growers. She talks about some of the trips that stood out the most, including her latest trip to Africa.
Hemmes says that a trip to Ukraine and Russia gave her the understanding that Agriculture is a universal language. Farmers understand the industry, no matter how different the practices are in different countries. Hemmes says it is great to share ideas and techniques.
Hemmes says as important as it was to talk about the industry abroad, it was just as important for her to communicate the value of the soybean checkoff and the work of the USB to the farmers back home here in Iowa.
Even though her time is concluded on the United Soybean Board, Hemmes is excited about what the future holds for the soybean industry here in America.
We thank April Hemmes for her hard work helping promote the work being done by America’s soybean producers in general, and Iowa’s soybean growers in particular.
