Kansas Soybean welcomes new Communications Director

A familiar face is back in the Kansas Soybean office. Amanda Manville joined the team in the Topeka office March 30 as Director of Communications. She previously spent time at Kansas Soybean as an intern in 2015.

“We got to know Amanda in her capacity as an intern with us,” Kenlon Johannes, CEO and Administrator, said. “We are pleased to have her back working in the office leading our communication efforts.”

Manville, of rural Valley Falls, comes to Kansas soybean after working at the Kansas State Department of Education, where she started after college. She received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications and Journalism from Kansas State University in 2017.

Through the agricultural communications program, she was Associate Editor for the Agriculturist magazine, and served as an officer in the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club. Other professional experiences for Manville include internships at the American Hereford Association and Kansas Water Office.

“I am overjoyed to be back in the world of Kansas agriculture, and to be at an organization I have already come to enjoy,” Manville said. “It is exciting to take on this role and advocate for Kansas soybeans, grow my network and communicate within the industry.”

As communications director, she manages communications, media and producer outreach for the Kansas Soybean Association and Kansas Soybean Commission.

The Kansas Soybean Association, headquartered in Topeka, is the voice and advocate on local, state, national and international issues of importance to Kansas’ 16,000 soybean farms. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary memberships of farmers and industry supporters. It also is the primary, administrative contractor to the Kansas Soybean Commission.

The Kansas Soybean Commission, established in 1977, includes nine volunteer farmer-commissioners who are elected by their peers. They oversee investments of the legislated “soybean checkoff” assessment in research, consumer information, market development, industry relations and farmer outreach to improve the profit opportunities for all Kansas soybean farmers.

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