Kask, Fitzsimmons bring strong ag backgrounds to soybean industry

MADISON, Wis. — Change is in the air at Wisconsin Soybean Program. That’s because its two parent organizations, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and the Wisconsin Soybean Association, have announced a pair of additions to the team.

Adam Kask and Kathryn Fitzsimmons have joined WSP. Kask comes in as Manager of Strategic Programs. Prior to WSP, Kask spent seven years with South Dakota Soybean as its Market Development and Research director.

“Adam is well respected in the soybean checkoff world,” said Pat Mullooly, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. “He brings great experience and new ideas, and we’re excited to see how the organization grows into the future.”

Fitzsimmons is a native of Mineral Point, Wis., where she grew up on a dairy farm. Fitzsimmons is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture and Rural Policy. She will serve as policy project manager for WSP.

“Kathryn will be focusing on our advocacy and membership programs among other things,” said Steve Trzebiatowski, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association. “She brings a great deal of energy and excitement for agriculture, and we’re happy we could bring her back to Wisconsin where she is contributing to agriculture in the state.”

Kask and Fitzsimmons are both employees of Ag Management Solutions, which was hired by WSP to help point the two organizations in a new direction after the passing of longtime executive director Robert Karls.

“AMS is an organization that specializes in helping organizations like ours get back on track and set strategic direction,” Mullooly said. “After we figure things out and find some stability, we intend to hire our own staff moving forward.”

Kask and Fitzsimmons will both be at the Wisconsin Corn•Soy Expo, Feb. 2-3 at Kalahari Resorts at the Wisconsin Dells. They will be joined by directors from WSMB and WSA, where WSP will unveil its new website and reintroduce itself to the farming community it serves.

“I’m looking forward to meeting as many soybean farmers in Wisconsin as possible,” Kask said. “WSP has a great relationship with Dr. Shawn Conely and the University of Wisconsin Extension researchers, and we see a lot of opportunities to do work that benefits our industry.”

Fitzsimmons added: “The legislative season is ramping up. There are a lot of moving parts to agriculture advocacy and this session. There isn’t a better time to come see the farmer leaders that represent you in Madison and Washington, D.C. and learn what they are doing to support soybean farmers.”

About Wisconsin Soybean Program
The Wisconsin Soybean Program is made up of the Wisconsin Soybean Association and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

WSA leads soybean advocacy on behalf of Wisconsin’s 14,000 soybean farmers. It works to shape farm friendly policies in Madison and Washington, D.C.

WSMB is the elected board of soybean farmers who oversee the investments of soybean checkoff money into research, new markets, biodiesel, education and promotion. Soybean checkoff money cannot be spent to influence policy or to lobbying.

About Ag Management Solutions
Ag Management Solutions helps small and medium-sized agriculture businesses realize efficiencies through access to common business needs — executive, administrative, financial, marketing and communications, membership and technical expert services among others.