The United Soybean Board (USB) honored two individuals, Dr. Phyllis Johnson and Chris Magnuson, for their contributions to the soybean industry and soybean checkoff. USB recognized the honorees at the American Soybean Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 25 at Commodity Classic, the annual soybean and corn producers meeting.

Dr. Johnson received the Outstanding Achievement Award, the highest recognition by the United Soybean Board, for her work with the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Service (BARC).  As Director of the facility, Dr. Johnson has helped blaze the trail for the use of millions of gallons of soy biodiesel. Leading by example, BARC uses a wide array of diesel engines from trucks and tractors to generators and heating boilers, which all run on biodiesel. Dr. Johnson’s support and educational programs on biodiesel use have been invaluable to the industry and continue to assist in building demand for soy biodiesel. In addition to biodiesel, Dr. Johnson has been a strong advocate for many other biobased products, using over a dozen soy-based products at BARC.

The USB Excellence in Domestic Marketing Award was given to Chris Magnuson, Executive Director of Operations, News & Communications at the Illinois Farm Bureau and former Domestic Programs Manager of USB. Magnuson received the award for his work to help build a better and more profitable environment for the agricultural industry and soybean farmers. During the seven years Magnuson served as Domestic Programs Manager, he helped create a domestic demand for U.S. soybeans by taking on critical issues such as the commercial introduction of biotechnology into the U.S. soybean industry, USB’s participation in the first soy health claim and the evaluation of end-user wants and needs in soybean meal and protein. Magnuson’s efforts were also essential in increasing the growth of the edible soy sector, assessing soy biodiesel research and promoting educational programs about soy. With the help and guidance of Magnuson, USB improved its strategic plan and established the QUALISOY Board, an organization responsible for creating and providing better soybeans.

“It is because of the dedication and contributions of people like Dr. Johnson and Chris Magnuson that the soybean checkoff is successful,” said USB Chairman Greg Anderson. “USB is proud to acknowledge the work of our award winners, who have had the vision and initiative to help increase the competitiveness of U.S. soybean farmers. These leaders serve as an example of how strategic, targeted work can positively influence the entire soybean industry.”

The Outstanding Achievement Award is an annual award presented by the soybean checkoff. The USB Excellence Award is a rotating award that recognizes outstanding achievement in five categories: communications, domestic marketing, international marketing, new uses and production research. One excellence award recipient is recognized annually, and the award rotates by category in alphabetical order.

USB is made up of 64 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.