The United Soybean Board has a new leader, and she brings strong Iowa roots to the position. Courtney Knupp, who grew up on a soybean farm in Washington County, Iowa, has taken over as CEO of the national organization. She steps into the role at a time when soybean producers are facing tight margins and uncertainty in the marketplace, making the work of the soybean checkoff especially important.
Knupp has spent her career working for or alongside the soybean industry. She says returning to the soybean family is an exciting opportunity, particularly when it comes to ensuring farmers receive value from their checkoff investments.
The United Soybean Board represents producers across the country, and Knupp recognizes that farmers in different regions face different challenges. She says having farmer leadership from across those regions helps the organization identify opportunities, address concerns, and make decisions that benefit the industry as a whole.
Iowa plays an important role in that process, both through the Iowa Soybean Association and through farmer representatives serving at the national level.
Knupp is also taking over at the beginning of a new fiscal year. The United Soybean Board began its fiscal year on October 1, with a plan already developed by its farmer leaders and staff. She says her immediate priority is executing that plan while maintaining farmer involvement in the organization’s decision-making.
Looking ahead, Knupp says the organization must continue identifying opportunities to strengthen demand for American soybeans and develop markets that can provide long-term value to producers.
That includes building on existing efforts, exploring new opportunities for soybean products, and ensuring the checkoff remains focused on delivering returns to the farmers who fund it.
For Knupp, who understands the industry from both her professional experience and her upbringing on an Iowa farm, the guiding principle is keeping soybean growers at the center of those decisions.
Farmers interested in learning more about the United Soybean Board and how their checkoff investments are being used can visit soybeancheckoff.org.
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