(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Kuboushek)
Sowing the seeds of change on capitol hill
June 30, 2025 | Kriss Nelson
Farmers depend on effective policies to support their livelihoods, ensure a stable food supply and promote sustainable farming. Tim Couser, a farmer from Story County, finds that all of this rings true.
"You could argue policy is more important to agriculture today than any time in history," says Couser. "Going forward, policy will fully direct the demand for our agricultural commodities."
He enrolled in the Grassroots Fellowship, a collaborative, one-year experience for young soybean farmers from Iowa who possess a desire to learn more about government and the legislative process, all while improving their core leadership. The program is funded in part by non-checkoff resources.
"Ag is an incredible industry," says Couser, a third-generation farmer. "I think it is essential to have some part, involvement, or at least willingness to care about what decisions policy makers make."
His experience with the Grassroots Fellowship program allowed him to engage in and become more educated in policy and learn more about the agricultural industry. He also found value in the networking with other members.
Key moments
The No. 1 takeaway from his year with the program was visiting Washington, D.C., for the American Soybean Association's (ASA) board of directors meeting and visiting lawmakers and regulatory leaders on Capitol Hill.
"We had multiple reasons to be there," says Couser. "Not only was it to be a fly on the wall and learn, but we also met with staffers and showed the eagerness and potential for a particular policy."
The group partnered with Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and ASA board members and staff to witness lobbying efforts firsthand.
"We got to see and learn the passing of that knowledge, of what is important, what might not be as important, how to approach those topics and who has the ultimate influence over certain topics," he says.
Seeing ISA District 6 Director Dave Walton, a farmer and ASA board member from Wilton, interact with a staffer in a Capitol Hill office was a valuable learning experience, Couser says.
"Dave was taking the lead in the discussion, and as farmers, we got to share our views," says Couser. "It was an experience to get to watch Dave, who is well-versed in policy, and I found value in that opportunity, especially to be a part of the discussion. It made the trip more than just a visit."
Advocate for farmers
Couser encourages other farmers to step outside of their comfort zone and apply for participation in the Grassroots Fellowship program.
"Not everyone is comfortable in that environment, and as farmers, we feel that being involved in policy is not our lane," he says.
Couser found that one of the biggest benefits of the Grassroots Fellowship is understanding how powerful a commodity group like ISA can be.
"Commodity agriculture can cause farmers to become passive in their attitude toward involvement. We don't sell to a consumer, we sell to a market. We become comfortable," he says. "We need to start every year, or every day, with the assumption to not only produce our product, but work toward selling it. I hope more farmers will enjoy taking part in the Grassroots Fellowship because the people involved will influence policy."
Programming participants can expect to gain from joining in Grassroots Fellowship:
ISA's Grassroots Fellowship is a collaborative, one-year experience for young Iowa soybean farmers who possess a desire to learn more about government and the legislative process, all while improving their core leadership. The program is funded in part by non-checkoff resources. Programming includes:
- Iowa Soybean Association's Winter Soy Summit
- Farm Forward event with legislative reception
- Hill visits in Washington, D.C.
Written by Kriss Nelson.
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