2026 Director Elections - District 7
July 1, 2026
Scot Bailey (Incumbent) – Anita
Scot Bailey grows soybeans, corn and hay in Cass County. He also raises cows in a family corporation owned by him and his wife, Cheryl, his parents, two sisters and aunt. They have farmed no-till for 33 years and strip-till for 12 years and use variable rate for planting and fertilizer. The family continues to research economically sustainable ways to incorporate cover crops into their acres.
Bailey earned his bachelor’s degree in ag studies from Northwest Missouri State.
He is a director on the Iowa Soybean Association’s board and represents Iowa Soybean Association on the Soy Transportation Coalition board. Bailey is also a voting delegate for the American Soybean Association. He previously served as president of the Cass County Cattlemen’s Association and served on his local Farm Bureau board.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board?
I want to be the voice from my district to make sure the checkoff is spent wisely. I also want to continue to represent the voice of the farmers who don’t have the time to be on the board.
What's the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers right now, and how can the board address it?
It is not one issue the Iowa Soybean Association needs to look at, it’s several. We need to look at demand, market share, transportation infrastructure, research and policy. We need to increase the competitiveness of Iowa soybean producers in the changing food, feed, and fuel industries. We must enhance the understanding in consumers, the media and farmers that science plays a critical role in the future supply of food. We must elevate on-farm research to provide systems-based solutions for environmental and production challenges.
Steve Dolch – Villisca
Steve Dolch farms with his wife, Linda, and co-owns and operates a farm with his brother and nephew. They grow soybeans, corn and hay and raise cow-calf pairs, feeding out the cattle in their own feedlot.
Dolch graduated with a bachelor’s in animal science from Colorado State University.
He’s served on the Montgomery County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the Iowa FFA State Alumni Board, the nominating committee for Farm Credit Services of America (Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and South Dakota area) and was a past board member of the local cooperative in Villisca. He’s president of the East Ridge Estates Condo Association. The family received the Good Farm Neighbor Award from the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board?
My board service has focused on serving all, especially average and smaller patrons. I draw on 54 years of experience to find answers to today’s complex agricultural challenges. With two sons and two nephews wanting to return to our operation, we must remove obstacles for all families in this situation. Beyond policy, we must develop new soybean uses through innovative research.
What's the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers right now, and how can the board address it?
Input costs and export tariffs threaten profitability. ISA must continue to lead the charge in boosting yields and diversifying end-product use. Because our industry’s future depends on transitioning knowledge and assets, ISA should facilitate the resources and communication necessary for succession planning. This ensures our collective “power in numbers” remains strong. We must be on the cutting edge of these conversations to ensure the next generation of farmers has a clear, viable path to profitability.
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