FARGO- N.D. - A dedicated North Dakota soybean farmer-leader was rewarded for her efforts last week by being elected to an executive position on the United Soybean Board (USB). Vanessa Kummer of Colfax, N.D., was elected to the executive committee of the United Soybean Board Dec. 17.
Kummer will begin her sixth year as a board member of the United Soybean Board, the national organization representing the soybean checkoff. During her time on USB, she has sat on the committees of International Marketing, Audit and Evaluation, Production and Select Yield and Quality (SYQ) Initiative. This year, Vanessa will be the chair of the Communications Committee and will serve on the Bio-Tech Initiative for USB. Kummer will serve a one-year term on USB's executive committee.
Vanessa Kummer, along with her husband, Paul, and son, Blaine, operates a family farm in Colfax. Besides soybeans, the Kummer Family raises wheat, corn and sugar beets. With over 30 years of experience in farming, Kummer has been involved with other agricultural organizations, including the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association as a board member, treasurer and past president; and the North Dakota Corn Growers Association. She is also active within her community as treasurer of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Colfax, past 4-H leader, softball coach and a member of the North Dakota State College of Science's athletic hall of fame. Vanessa and Paul also have a daughter, Rachael, who is a teacher in Colorado.
USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.
