Jacob "Jake" Chisholm, a farmer from Gary, Minn., has been named the new editor of the Sugarbeet Grower magazine, based in Fargo.
Chisholm replaces Don Lilleboe, who had been the editor of the publication for 30 years who retired from the position at the end of July. The Sugarbeet Grower is published by Forum Printing Co., which is owned by Forum Communications Co., in Fargo. FCC also owns Agweek and AgweekTV.
Chisholm is a fourth-generation Red River Valley farmer. According to his LinkedIn information, he is with Jacob Chisholm Farms, a 720-acre multi-crop operation that produces hard red spring wheat, soybeans, dry edible beans, and is a shareholder growing sugar beets for American Crystal Sugar Co. In 2015 Chisholm earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from North Dakota State University, with minors in crop and weed sciences, according to the July/August issue of the publication. He is working on a master's in agribusiness and applied economics.
In 2014, Chisholm had a fellowship with AgCountry Farm Credit Services, followed by an internship with American Sugarbeet Growers Association, working in the organization's Washington, D.C., office on anti-dumping/countervailing duty issues between the U.S. and Mexico. In 2015 he was a grain merchandising intern with Archer Daniels Midland's Specialty Commodities office in Fargo, working with accounts including General Mills and Kellogg's. In 2016 he's had an internship with the International Sugar Organization.
"Now more than ever, what's happening elsewhere is playing a role in the future of our U.S. industry, and I don't see that trend changing anytime soon," Chisholm says, in an article announcing the change.
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Chisholm said he expected to cover subjects including trends in agronomics, harvest, storage and processing, sugar beet crop quality, market outlook, international trade and global sugar production. He said he hoped to expand the magazine's social media.
Lilliboe holds a master's degree from the University of North Dakota. His undergraduate advisor, Hiram Drache, at Concordia College, put him in touch with Al Bloomquist, then an executive of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, who helped the association members purchase the corporation and make it a cooperative.
Lilleboe counts Bloomquist as a key mentor. With a background in journalism, Bloomquist had founded the magazine in 1963. Bloomquist sold the magazine in 1986 to Kayes Printing. Forum Communications purchased Kayes in 1999, and thereby the magazine.
In his departing article, Lilleboe talked about his satisfaction with traveling to sugar regions around the country and with "visiting the farm of every American Sugarbeet Growers Association president. He says he'll continue as editor of The Sunflower magazine, which is owned by the National Sunflower Association, based in the Bismarck area.
Lilliboe noted that Bloomquist became a longtime vice president of American Crystal Sugar Co. and its president from 1990 to 1992. Lilleboe's first feature article for the magazine was of George "Bud" Sinner of Casselton. Sinner, a former chairman of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers, who would go on to be a two-term governor of North Dakota.
