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URBANDALE,
Iowa - The World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) has re-elected Roy Bardole, a soybean grower from Rippey, as vice chairman and Roy Arends of Alexander as a board member during its recent annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The WISHH program creates sustainable solutions for the human protein demands in developing countries through the introduction and use of U.S. soy products.
“WISHH is true basic market development; however, it is a lot more,” Bardole said. “To see what high quality protein does in a child's diet gives me as a soybean grower a great deal of satisfaction. When we sell our soybeans we don't often think of the ultimate user. Working with WISHH gives me that link.”
Roy Arends agrees that WISHH offers many benefits.
“In addition to researching the healthful aspects of soy, WISHH is a wonderful way for U.S. farmers to create goodwill around the world through the philanthropic work achieved by the Acre of Giving program and the Soy for Life and World Soy Foundations,” Arends said.
The Acre of Giving program encourages farmers to donate the equivalent of an acre of soybeans. Contributions are used to help the Soy for Life Foundation and the World Soy Foundation with further research of the many health benefits of soy as well as delivering soy protein and nutrition education to hungry people.
Jim Hershey is the executive director of WISHH.
“These officers and committee members hold the reins of WISHH at a time of enormous potential for U.S. soy to meet the global demand for soy protein,” Hershey said. “Many developing countries where WISHH works, such as India, Kenya and Guatemala, are slated for significant economic growth. While the world is searching for answers to food shortages, WISHH is serving up solutions to help food companies in developing countries make more and better foods with U.S. high-protein soy products.”
Indiana soybean grower Scott Fritz was elected WISHH chairman. Minnesota soybean farmer Barb Overlie will serve as secretary, and Pat Dumoulin of Illinois as treasurer. Each will serve a one-year term.
Along with Bardole and Arends, other members of the WISHH committee include: Ken Bartlett, North Carolina; Mike Clark, Ohio; Jared Hagert, North Dakota; David Iverson and Dennis Jaeger, South Dakota; Jack Trumbo, Kentucky; Karl Lawfer, Tim Scates and William Wykes, Illinois. The directors will serve on the WISHH Committee for a two-year term.
The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) was among the state soybean grower organizations that launched the WISHH Program in 2000. WISHH is headquartered at the American Soybean Association in St. Louis. WISHH has worked in 23 countries, ranging from Africa to Asia to Latin America, to improve diets as well as encourage growth of food industries. For more information about WISHH, please visit www.wishh.org.
(Photos are available upon request. Contact LeAnn Strother at the Iowa Soybean Association by calling 515-251-8640 or emailing her at lstrother@iasoybeans.com.)
The Iowa Soybean Association
develops policies and programs that help farmers expand profit opportunities
while promoting environmentally sensitive production using the soybean
checkoff and other resources. The Association is governed by an elected
volunteer board of 21 farmers.
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