Iowa farmers elected to guide checkoff priorities

February 9, 2026

Farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) elected Brent Gatton from Bremen, Ky., as the new chair during the organization’s board meeting in St. Charles, Mo. He’s joined by nine newly elected farmer-leaders to serve alongside him on the Executive Committee for the upcoming year.

“Farmers have weathered a year marked by real economic uncertainty, and I’m privileged to step into this role at such a pivotal moment,” says Gatton. “The Soy Checkoff remains relentlessly focused on creating value for U.S. soybean farmers by protecting existing markets, accelerating new uses, and opening new doors for U.S. soy around the world. As Chair, I’m focused on pushing forward investments that move volume while also promoting our sustainability to keep U.S. soybean farmers competitive in the global marketplace.”

The newly elected USB Executive Committee includes:

• Brent Gatton, Chair – Kentucky
• Matt Gast, Vice Chair – North Dakota
• Susan Watkins, Treasurer – Virginia
• Tom Frisch, Secretary – Minnesota
• Robb Ewoldt – Iowa
• Tony Mellenthin – Wisconsin
• Carla Schultz – Michigan
• Don Wyss – Indiana
• Joey Boudreaux – Louisiana
• Kyle Durham – Missouri
• Philip Good – Mississippi (Past Chair)

As the new Chair, Gatton will ensure FY26 investments and priorities across the market segments of food, feed, fuel, industrial uses, exports and sustainable production effectively grow demand for U.S. soy, drive on-farm resilience, and bring value to the nearly half-million U.S. soybean farmers. In the coming year, he will also focus on increasing greater communication and education efforts to strengthen the reputation of U.S. Soy with customers, amplify checkoff investments to inform U.S. soybean farmers, and enhance partnerships with 30+ state soybean boards on research, outreach and demand generation.

Iowa farmers Tim Bardole, Brent Renner and Suzanne Shirbroun also serve on the United Soybean Board’s 77 volunteer farmer-leader board.

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