It’s election season! 

As the steward of Wisconsin soybean checkoff dollars, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) ensures that the state’s soybean growers have the tools, markets and research needed to succeed. To make sound investments, it’s imperative that decisions are made by farmer leaders representing growers across the state. That’s why the WSMB director election is such a vital component to WSMB’s framework. 

“The people making soybean checkoff investments are soybean growers themselves, which is critical to ensuring that the best decisions are made with producers at top of mind,” said WSMB President Jonathan Gibbs. “Our board members don’t take their roles lightly and are dedicated to ensuring that sound investments are made to increase Wisconsin soybean farmer profitability.” 

With three open seats in 2025, soybean growers in three WSMB districts have through Aug. 15 to vote in the election, which is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).  

Three of the seven districts that make up the board have an open seat, and each has one nominee: 

• District 3: David Justman, Platteville 

• Counties: Adams, Crawford, Grant, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk and Vernon 

• District 4: Current WSMB President Jonathan Gibbs, Fox Lake 

• Counties: Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago 

• District 5: Patrick M. Mullooly, Clinton 

• Counties: Dane, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Rock 

DATCP has mailed ballots to eligible soybean growers. Completed ballots must be signed and sent to  

WI DATCP, Market Orders Program,  

P.O. Box 8911 

Madison, WI 53708-8911 

Ballots must be postmarked on or before Aug. 15, 2025. Unsigned ballots will not be counted. Elected growers will serve three-year terms beginning Sept. 1, 2025. 

“If you’re a soybean grower in one of these districts, please vote,” Gibbs said. “They’re your soybean checkoff dollars and it’s important that the growers we have on the board represent your best interests.”