Newest Commissioner Emphasizes Outreach

Anna Unruh has been appointed Commissioner for District 6 following the retirement of Dennis Gruenbacher, Andale, from the Kansas Soybean Commission board. Unruh, who grew up on a dairy farm in Missouri, grows soybeans, corn and wheat on County Line Farms in Harvey County. She met her husband Jason after moving to Kansas for a nursing degree. They now farm together with his parents and their four young children.

Unruh became involved with Kansas Soybean when she and Jason participated in the American Soybean Association’s Corteva Young Leader Program, earning her a seat on the Kansas Soybean Association board. As she dove into the world of farmer advocacy, she found opportunities to support checkoff work as well: radio interviews, networking with college students and even baking with soy ingredients on television.

One event was particularly impactful: a KSC-led agriculture immersion tour for master’s students in dietetics. Unruh rode along to answer questions as these future professionals met the producers who raise their food safely, sustainably and efficiently. She saw how those conversations changed the perceptions of people who would go on to build diets for schools, hospitals and more.

As KSC’s newest commissioner, it’s outreach efforts like those that Unruh is most excited for, saying that someone has to be able to connect the dots from farmers to consumers in order to “move the pile.”

“Without the checkoff, how would you, as a farmer, promote your product?” she says. “We have to get the word out not just to direct buyers like elevators and processors, but to feeding barns, companies trying to de-carbonize, urban families, customers across the ocean.”

Unruh places an emphasis on stewardship in all aspects of her life and sees that as the main value of the checkoff. Unruh is excited to be part of the conversation around stewarding farmer dollars, helping to shape decisions around research projects, market development and outreach efforts.

“I have the perspective of a mom, nurse and primary grocery shopper, and I think it will be useful alongside the perspective we all have as farmers,” Unruh says.

Unruh is available for farmers in her district to contact via her email, which is listed on the Kansas Soybean website at kansassoybeans.org/commissioners. She encourages farmers in District 6 to reach out with any questions, thoughts or requests.

“My hope is to become more connected with farmers in my district, and to build those relationships so people feel like they can share concerns and ideas,” Unruh says.