Emerging Leaders Academy Class 9, Phase 2

Story by Jancey Hall, Director of Programs and Outreach

Always in pursuit of elevating the voice of Kansas soybean farmers, the Kansas Soybean Association and Commission created an outreach and training program designed to immerse participants in all stages of the soybean industry. Class 9 of the Emerging Leaders Academy is in full swing, and Phase 2 provided unique opportunities for personal and professional development.

The second phase is designed to explore where soybeans go after they leave the farm, how they’re used, and the opportunities and challenges within the soybean supply chain. Five participants engaged in farming, extension and soybean research took a deep dive to enrich their working knowledge and advocacy ability.

Stops on this tour ranged from inputs to logistics to end products. The first stop was Frito-Lay in Topeka, seeing how ingredients come together into a finished product. From there, the group went to BNSF in Edgerton to see how trains are loaded and unloaded to move freight across the nation and eventually onto ships.

“The Frito tour was just phenomenal,” says participant James Coover, a farmer and extension agent from Parsons. “Seeing all the individual processes, everything that goes into it, and also the stuff that doesn’t – it’s simple ingredients. To see that in person, something we’ve grown up with and all know and love, was pretty cool.”

After that, it was all about crush. The group spoke with Cargill and Bartlett, both of which have soybean crush plants in Kansas. They gained a greater understanding of the process of separating soybean meal and oil, as well as where they go. Markets are often top of mind for farmers, and they dove into trends in the industry and the impacts of various events – from weather to geopolitics.

For Ryan Johnson, a farmer from Berryton who is heavily involved in local and statewide agriculture organizations, it was a highlight of the experience.

“I didn’t realize how difficult it actually is to process soybeans and extract the value of the components,” he says. “Small things like having rollers that aren’t quite flat enough can affect the value of the product at the other end. It’s a fine-tuned process.”

In a visit to the International Grains Program Institute, participants gained insight into checkoff-funded work taking place in Kansas and around the globe to sell more soybeans. IGP touches buyers in numerous countries and six continents, so discussions on the value those relationships and trainings bring to Kansas soybean farmers were eye-opening.

A final visit to Corteva in Wamego to discuss ag technology and soybean breeding focused on the relationship between private and checkoff-funded research and how they work in conjunction with each other. Understanding these industry logistics illustrated the value of the soybean checkoff and its work to optimize each step of the soybean process.   

In addition to immersive experiences, participants had opportunities to engage with professionals who serve uniquely as resources. On the first evening, they had dinner with dietetic students from KU Med to discuss food trends, how consumers engage with dietitians and opportunities for farmers to connect. Kansas Soybean does a lot of work with dietetics students to build their trust in farmers’ sustainable operating practices, so this opportunity was two-fold.

The second evening involved a roundtable with researchers from K-State about their checkoff-funded projects. Researchers heard the issues farmers are facing right now, and farmers asked questions and dove into possible solutions. It was a valuable time for both to gain insights directly from each other.

Johnson described the tour a valuable use of his time, saying, “I learned more about the processes that our products are used in. I’ve always been kind of a nerd when it comes to transportation and logistics, but I really got to see the entire value chain from the moment they leave my possession to literally eating a hot chip coming off the line.”

Emerging Leaders is a three-phase program, with the final phase taking the group to the United Soybean Board meeting in Indianapolis in July. The trip will focus on the national and global impact of Kansas soybeans and how they fit into the broader system.