Heinigers share Young Leader Phase 1 experience

Kendall and I were excited to attend our long-delayed Corteva Young Leader training in Vancouver, WA. We met with tremendous rising stars in agriculture and learned about the issues facing the soybean industry today.

The backdrop of the Pacific Northwest was fitting, as so many soybeans travel this area on the way to their export destinations. We were treated to a narrated infrastructure tour along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, including the largest grain export terminal in the Pacific Northwest, United Grain’s 80-million-bushel facility in the Port of Vancouver.

In the classroom, we received updates from the American Soybean Association, United Soybean Board, and U.S. Soybean Export Council leadership along with fascinating policy and economic presentations.

The training was geared around communication strategies, whether it be with policy makers, consumers, or other stakeholders in the food supply chain.

The trip to Vancouver was a tremendous opportunity to network with farmers from all over the country who share our passion to advocate for agriculture.

We would strongly encourage anyone who is passionate about agriculture and the food system to become engaged in Kansas Soybean Association activities.