I would first like to thank everyone for electing me to serve as president of your organization! We have a talented board of farmer leaders at the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA), and I’m excited to lead this group as we promote farm-friendly policies in Madison and Washington, D.C. I especially want to credit my predecessor, Sara Stelter, for two years of sterling leadership. Sara moved WSA forward; by any measure, her presidency was a huge success. With support from my fellow members and directors, including Sara, we’ll continue working on initiatives that will have positive impacts on our industry. 

Our challenges in agriculture are mighty – from advocating against tariffs to looking toward the future with sustainable aviation fuel – but it’s important to keep everything in perspective. 

For those who don’t know me, I’m the proud father of a daughter with special needs. I was honored to participate in a panel at the recent Wisconsin Corn•Soy Expo alongside mental health experts. The discussion led me to think about the big picture. As I watch the discourse in our country, I am reminded of when my daughter, Natalia, was attending middle school in Janesville. She was in mostly special needs classes and didn’t really feel like she fit in many other places. My wife, Christine, and I met with some of her teachers and asked if she could help with after-school sports or clubs. We were grateful when the girls swim coach said she could assist as a student manager. 

After the first practice, the coach asked me if Natalia could swim with the girls at their next practice. I was hesitant, but said, yes, she could. The coach then said that Natalia would 

practice with them and then also swim in the meets with the team. Again, I was hesitant, but Coach Wilson said it would be good for her. When it came time for the first meet, Chris and I were there, scared of the unknown but also proud that Natalia was on a team. When it came time for her first race, she stood with a floatie around her waist and got in the pool, ready to go. It was the 50-meter freestyle, so they had to go to the end and back. The gun went off and she leaped into the pool. Chris and I were in tears, partly as proud and scared parents but mostly because, as Natalia swam, her teammates lined the side of the pool, cheering her on. She got to the first end where she was supposed to turn around, but she stopped and tried high fiving the girls, but they urged her to continue and kept yelling until she hit the finish line. Natalia got out of the pool and was surrounded by the rest of the team congratulating her. She did not win her race, but with the smile on her face you would have thought that she won the Olympic gold medal. 

 I share this because if a group of middle school students can support someone who may think, talk and act differently than them, shouldn’t we as farmers encourage each other more? As the newest president of WSA, it’s my honor to work alongside this great group of advocates to promote policies that build bridges (literally and figuratively) toward a better tomorrow for our economy, neighbors and our families.