URBANDALE, Iowa - The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and The Soyfoods Council were recognized by the National Agri-Marketing Association on Friday, January 17 at their annual Region III awards banquet at International Market Square in Minneapolis, Minn.

A merit award was presented to Jay Magnani (photo), Web master at ISA, for the “Internet Web Site Directed to Farmers, Ranchers and Growers” category. The award-winning Web site for the Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Soybean Promotion Board can be found at www.iasoybeans.com.

A merit award was also presented to Kelly Mescher (photo), senior communications specialist at ISA, for the “News or Feature Article” category for her story, “Soybean Viruses and Aphids – Partners in Crime.” The award-winning article appeared in the Iowa Soybean Review and Illinois Soybean Review magazines.

First place was presented to Linda Funk, executive director of The Soyfoods Council, and Morgan & Myers for the “Internet Web Site with an Educational Focus” category for their Web site, www.ZeroTransSoy.com.

The Iowa Soybean Association and The Soyfoods Council were honored among some of the best in the business by NAMA, an organization bringing together professionals who market products and services to the agriculture industry. Other companies honored that night for their public relations and advertising work includes major Fortune 500 companies in Region III, which covers the states of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Soyfoods Council and Morgan & Myer’s piece will be submitted to the national competition – winners will be announced at the national awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Ariz. This will take place during the 2005 Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show.

For more information about Iowa soybeans and to view the award-winning materials, please visit www.iasoybeans.com. For more on The Soyfoods Council, visit www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. For more information on NAMA, visit www.nama.org.