Host of the Not Gullible Podcast *wife * mom * maker of my home * author * speaker * contributor at Servants of Grace & Women in Apologetics * Soli Deo Gloria
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Articles by Vanessa Hunt
SoyPAC 101 - American Soybean Association
By Andrew Cyphers, ASA SoyPAC Manager Decisions made in Washington can have a direct impact on soybean farmers – from trade and biofuels to the farm bill, crop protection tools, and other policies that affect the farm economy. SoyPAC gives soybean growers another way to engage with the policymakers making those decisions and strengthen the industry’s voice in Washington.
Midterms Put Agriculture in the Spotlight
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator When voters head to the polls Nov. 3, they will determine more than which party controls Congress. For soybean farmers, the 2026 midterm elections will also help determine who shapes federal agricultural policy over the next two years. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot, with narrow margins in both chambers putting increased attention on competitive races.
David Johanson Brings a Career in Trade to ASA
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator After years of working on trade investigations covering everything from steel and chemicals to home appliances, David Johanson is ready to narrow his focus. Johanson joined ASA in September as international trade advisor after nearly 15 years at the U.S. International Trade Commission, including two full terms as chairman.
A Message To The Younger Generation
By Vanessa Hunt, ASA Director of Publications & Visuals The American Soybean Association has a long history, trusted reputation, and deep relationships across the agriculture industry and Washington, D.C. But when it comes to influencing agricultural policy, one of the most effective voices on Capitol Hill is still that of the farmer. That’s why farmer leaders on ASA’s Board of Directors are committed to ensuring the next generation of soybean farmers are prepared to carry that advocacy forward.
2026 ASA Farmer Forum Brings Farmers & Industry Together to Explore Conservation & Profitability
By Doug Schilling, ASA Industry Relations Project Coordinator For U.S. soybean farmers, conservation decisions are increasingly connected to the economic realities of running a farm. Managing input costs, protecting soil and water resources, navigating conservation programs, and responding to changing policy and market expectations all play a role in maintaining a productive and profitable operation. ASA and PepsiCo representatives posed for a picture in front of a PepsiCo truck that runs on B100.
From High School to Higher Education: Funding Your Ag Passion With Soy Scholarship
By Farris Haley, ASA Industry Relations Manager The future of agriculture depends entirely on cultivating bright, innovative minds. Recognizing this need, the American Soybean Association and BASF Corporation have partnered since 2008 to invest in students who possess a deep passion for the farming industry.
Tunes From the Cab
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator Harvest has its own soundtrack. From podcasts and favorite teams on the radio to songs that bring back memories of riding in the tractor as a kid, what fills the cab can be as varied as the farmers behind the wheel. We asked three ASA farmer leaders to share what’s keeping them company through the long days of harvest.
Building Markets Beyond the Farm: How the Biomass-Based Diesel Initiative is Delivering Results for U.S. Soybean Farmers
By Josh Rahm, ASA Director of Government Affairs When soybean farmers plant their crops each spring, their focus is understandably on weather, markets, and producing the highest-quality crop possible. Few are thinking about a regulatory hearing in Sacramento, a legislative meeting in Santa Fe, or a parliamentary vote in Brussels. Yet today, those decisions increasingly influence the value of every bushel grown across rural America.
Why Partnerships Matter
By Tracy Snider, ASA Executive Director of Industry & State Relations While some days on the farm are spent solo with large machines, computers, and a ton of time on the phone, agriculture has never been a business of isolation.
Investing in Nigeria’s Next Generation Helps Build a Market for U.S. Soy
For U.S. soybean farmers, developing an international market is about more than finding a buyer today. It is about investing in the businesses, industries, and people who can create demand for U.S. soy for years to come. That is the approach ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program takes in Nigeria, where investments in aquaculture are helping strengthen the country’s fish industry while creating new opportunities for U.S. soy.
Strengthening the Soy Industry Through the ASA Action Partnership Initiative
By Erin Glarner, ASA Director of Industry Relations The ASA Action Partnership (ASAAP), established in 2011, brings together stakeholders across the U.S. soybean industry to strengthen communication, collaboration, and commitment to a stronger, more secure industry. ASAAP unites ASA, state affiliates, Soybean Checkoff organizations, and industry partners to advance and protect the interests of U.S. soybean growers and their ability to farm profitably.
Ag Voices of the Future Inspires Students to Build Careers in Agriculture Advocacy
By Michelle Hummel, ASA Senior Director of Industry & Stakeholder Relations 2025 Ag Voices of the Future class meets with USDA staff. This summer a group of college students will head to Washington, D.C., as the 10th class to complete the Valent and ASA Ag Voices of the Future program. This unique program is designed to expose young people with a farm connection or an interest in agriculture to an education on policy issues and advocacy.
Brandon Wipf Sees Opportunity in Monarch Conservation
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator Photo courtesy of Brandon Wipf For Brandon Wipf, discussions around monarch butterfly conservation are about more than protecting a species. They are also about recognizing how voluntary conservation practices can support both the environment and the long-term financial strength of farm operations.
State Biofuels Policy and the Future of Soy-Based Biofuels
By Josh Rahm, ASA Director of Government Affairs State biofuel policy is rapidly becoming one of the most influential forces shaping the future of U.S. agriculture, domestic energy production, and transportation decarbonization. Low Carbon Fuel Standard programs in California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and emerging clean fuel initiatives across the country are no longer isolated regional policies.
Adding Advocacy to the 'Hustle & Bustle' of Farm Life
By Jordan Bright, ASA Director of Social & Digital Media Growing up on a cattle farm in southwest Missouri, Summer Ory always knew she would pursue a future in agriculture. Summer Ory hosts a trade panel with her lawmakers and other farmers. Photo credit: Iowa Soybean Association “To this day my favorite place to be is outside,” she said. After earning her degree in business and management from Iowa State University, Ory married her husband, Dan, and soon farming became her full-time career.
The Cost of Farming
By Vanessa Hunt, ASA Director of Publications & Visuals Before planting season begins, farmers spend months planning and making critical decisions that shape the success of the growing season and the long-term sustainability of their operation. Farming requires a wide range of inputs to plant, grow, and harvest a successful crop. These inputs include products like fertilizer, seed, fuel, and equipment, as well as operational expenses such as repairs, labor, land costs, and taxes.
Soybean Farmers Promote 'Subtraction Math' in Addressing Supply Chain Challenges
By Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition U.S. soybean farmers continue demonstrating the ability to produce a robust and quality crop for domestic and international customers. These customers continue demonstrating strong demand for U.S. soybeans and the products derived from them. However, for farmers to be profitable, it is not simply confined to supply and demand. A third component is required, which is the connectivity between supply and demand.
AI on the Farm: What Soybean Farmers Need to Know
By Tracy Snider, ASA Executive Director of Industry & State Relations As with any new technology, the bright shiny object tends to get the most attention. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is becoming a bigger part of agriculture. From seed development to sprayers in the field, companies are using AI tools to help farmers make decisions, improve efficiency, and manage risk.
WISHH Build Investment-Ready Partners While Growing Demand for U.S. Soy
WISHH partners pitch to potential investors at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal. Sponsor pitch sessions help companies explore access to funding and create resilient, investment-ready enterprises capable of supporting long-term demand for U.S. soy. ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program works with business partners in emerging and developing markets to improve their ability to purchase U.S. soy.
CRISPR and the Future of Soybean Breeding
By Emily Negrin, Inari Vice President, Corporate Communications Farmers have always relied on seed improvements to stay productive in ever-changing environments. From the advent of plant breeding to modern practices, each leap forward has helped manage risk, protect yields, and make better use of resources. Today, one of the most important advances in breeding techniques is the use of gene editing, a biological tool capable of unlocking improvements with unmatched speed and precision.
Taking U.S. Soy Global
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator For ASA directors, stepping off the farm and into global markets offers a whole new perspective on the soy they grow every day. Through travel with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), U.S. farmer leaders are meeting customers, seeing their product in action, and building relationships that stretch far beyond their own fields.
Successes from WISHH’s CAST Project Pave Way for Future of U.S. Soy in Cambodia
Through USDA’s Food for Progress program, ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program helped strengthen Cambodia’s aquaculture sector while building lasting commercial ties that support demand for U.S. soybean meal. Although the Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade (CAST) Cambodia project has concluded, its results continue to shape the country’s aquaculture industry, while also helping U.S. soy venture into other sectors.
Rooted in Stewardship: Farmers Honored for Conservation Leadership
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator Winners Jessica & James Baxter, Katherine & Alex Forsbach, Jon & Cathy Nelson, and Lewis & Carrie Unruh with ASA President Scott Metzger (OH), USB Chair Brent Gatton (KY), Christine Tew from Valent, and Samantha Davis from Bayer. For many soybean farmers, conservation is not a new idea or a trend driven by outside pressure.
Growing the Next Generation of Soy Leaders
By Erin Glarner, ASA Director of Industry Relations The 42nd class of ASA Corteva Agriscience Leaders attends The World Food Prize in Des Moines, IA. Founded in 1984, the ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader program serves as a benchmark for leadership development in agriculture and continues to set the bar on identifying and training new, innovative, and engaged growers to serve as the voice of the American farmer.
Farming & Leading: Meet The 2026 Advocacy Team Chairs
By Vanessa Hunt, ASA Director of Publications & Visuals The American Soybean Association is first and foremost a farmer-led organization. It is powered by farmers who volunteer their time as directors and step up to lead the next generation of soybean leaders. For every agriculture policy win, there are countless hours of work and numerous people behind the scenes who are consistently advocating for soybean farmers.
Pesticide Conversations Continue on Farms & in D.C.
By Madelyn Derks, ASA Director of Government Affairs While picking up some groceries, I noticed the label “glyphosate-free” on several packaged goods, namely, an avocado oil spray. I was instantly annoyed by the misleading nature of this label, but it reminded me that for some consumers, this branding is an indication of “safe” or “healthy” for themselves and their families.
Farmers Recognized at ASA’s Annual Awards Celebration
By Jordan Bright, ASA Director of Social & Digital Media ASA held its annual Awards Celebration in San Antonio, Texas, at Commodity Classic. This celebration of the soybean industry acknowledges excellence in volunteer achievement and inspirational leadership. The awards recognize state association volunteerism, top leadership achievements of five years or more, and significant, long-lasting contributions to the soybean industry over a lifetime.
Biofuel: Staying Competitive
By Vanessa Hunt, ASA Director of Publications & Visuals As trade policy and geopolitical dynamics continue to create economic uncertainty around the globe, a robust domestic biofuel market would provide much needed stability and market opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers.
Colorbiotics' Peak 301 Certified 'It's Sustainably Soy'
Peak 301 is the all-natural, non-toxic answer for aging asphalt shingles: an application of a chemistry-correcting formula that’s guaranteed to extend the life of a roof. The product works its way through every single part of every single shingle to fix the chemistry that breaks down over time. One application will add at least six years to your roof — guaranteed by warranty — but as long as your shingles are in decent shape, it’ll be more like adding a decade.
Cultivating Hope: Supporting Mental Health in Agriculture
By Rural Minds Farming has always required resilience. Each season brings new uncertainties, and every soybean grower knows the pressures that come with working the land. In recent years, those pressures have grown. Volatile markets, rising input costs, unpredictable weather and supply chain disruptions have pushed stress levels to new heights—and the impact extends far beyond the fields.
This Farm Girl Cooks - Deanne Frieders
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator Deanne Frieders’ kitchen is an extension of the farm. After marrying her husband, Ryan, and becoming part of his family’s farming operation, Frieders quickly learned that harvest does not just happen in the field. It happens around kitchen counters, in coolers packed for the day and in meals timed to the rhythm of planting and harvest.
Advocating for Increased Market Expansion & Market Access
By Virginia Houston, ASA Director of Government Affairs It isn’t an exaggeration to say that trade is the lifeblood of U.S. soybean farmers. As the United States’ largest exported agricultural commodity, the ability to sell high-quality U.S. soybeans around the world is vital to the continued success of our industry. It also isn’t an exaggeration to say that trade policy was front and center in 2025.
WISHH Leads U.S. Soy Expansion in Central Asia's Emerging Markets
The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program continues to expand markets for U.S. soy in Central Asia. The rapidly advancing region is creating promising new opportunities for soybean farmers across both the food and feed sectors. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are poised to increase their demand for high-quality protein, positioning U.S. soy at the forefront of expansion.
Highlights and Hurdles: ASA Celebrates Important Wins in 2025, Focuses on Challenges Ahead
By Allison Jenkins As the calendar moves through its final months of 2025, countdowns are everywhere—top songs, best moments, biggest headlines. For the American Soybean Association, the countdown for its 105th anniversary year looks a little different: it’s about the advocacy achievements that mattered most to farmers and the unfinished business left to address.
Spotlight on Soy Policy: How ASA Shapes the Future of Farming
By Jordan Bright, ASA Director of Social & Digital Media From shifting markets to uncontrollable weather, soybean farmers juggle challenges at home and abroad while producing the food and fuel the world relies on.
WISHH Celebrates 25 Years of Expanding Global Markets for U.S. Soy
Twenty-five years ago, a group of visionary U.S. soybean grower-leaders recognized the need to diversify the use of their crops with new markets around the globe. Their forward-thinking led to the creation of the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program. This year, WISHH celebrates a quarter century of impact building long-term demand for U.S. soy in developing and emerging markets through trade, development and food security partnerships.
The Unsaturated Advantage: How Seed Oils Became the Quiet Hero of Heart Health
By Sophia Sackleh, National Oilseed Processors Association We use vegetable oils every day—whether we are cooking dinner, preparing snacks, or feeding infants with formula. Also known as seed oils, this group includes soybean, canola, sunflower, cottonseed, and others. Despite the recent attention they’ve received, vegetable oils are hardly new to our diets. Archeological evidence shows that humans have used oils such as soy, sesame, and sunflower for thousands of years.
John Deere Announces B30 Biodiesel Compatibility Across Engine Portfolio
John Deere recently announced the approval of B30 biodiesel use across its entire portfolio of Tier 4 John Deere engines. This increases the previous approval of blends up to B20. “At John Deere, we’re committed to supporting and growing the use of renewable fuels in our equipment,” said Pierre Guyot, senior vice president of John Deere Power Systems.
Janna Fritz - Connecting U.S. Soy to the World
By Blair Shipp, ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator Michigan farmer Janna Fritz has spent her career strengthening the link between U.S. soybean farmers and customers around the globe. As an ASA director and chair of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), she brings both passion and firsthand experience to her leadership roles, rooted in a lifelong belief that strong markets start with strong connections.
How Flooding Soybeans in Early Reproductive Stages Impacts Yield, Seed Composition
By John Lovett, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station With an increasing frequency and intensity of flooding events and an eye to capitalize on a common rice production technique, soybean breeders are on a quest to develop varieties with flood tolerance at any stage in the plant’s development.
Relive the 1980s Through These 14 Timeless Photographs
Relive the 1980s Through These 14 Timeless Photographs The 1980s embodied the fun and fervor of the yuppie culture through the craze for electronic dance music and people’s love for light-hearted yet highly entertaining films and television shows. These classic photos from that decade perfectly capture the essence of the era. You can relive the sights and sounds through these real-life shots that give us a glimpse into what life must have been like during the ’80s.
Airbnb demand boosts mortgage business
Increasing numbers continue to purchase properties to rent out as short-term holiday lets. The popularity of Airbnbs has been a major factor in driving new business for brokers – as a specialist lender we’ve been delighted to arrange finance! The ‘Airbnb effect’ is set to continue Whether it’s a historic country property, smart coastal apartment, rural retreat or city break option, the UK has a growing list of incredible Airbnbs.
People Behind the Disney Parks
Pre-Order Available Formats Print Meet the people who created Disney theme parks around the world! Through rare Disney theme park concept art and photographs, this must-have collector’s book showcases more than 280 biographies and features more than 50 pages on the evolution and behind-the-scenes of the Main Street, U.S.A. areas across the globe, up to and including the fairytale castles at the end of each street.
The Official Disney Parks Cookbook
Pre-Order Available Formats Print Some of the best vacation moments happen during a great meal, and this collection of official Disney parks recipes is the perfect ingredient to sharing similar food, love, and laughter with friends and family at home! For more than twenty-five years, Pam Brandon has worked closely with the Disney chefs to thoughtfully take the best dishes from Disney theme parks and resorts and serve up official recipes that are just right for prepping on a smaller scale in...
Poster Art of the Disney Parks, Second Edition
Pre-Order Available Formats Print An expanded and updated second edition of the stunning collection of posters from Disney theme parks around the world! Features more than 85 new posters and concept art pieces and a lively narrative about their behind-the-scenes development. Disney attraction posters have been an important means of communication since Disneyland began displaying them in 1956.
Keeping the Disney Dream Alive
Pre-Order Available Formats Print Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive is the memoir of Disney Legend Dick Nunis. It is a warm personal reminiscence of learning directly from Walt Disney for 12 years, followed by more than 30 years devoted to championing his vision and standards as the Disney empire grew.
Not Just a Walk in the Park
The never-before-told, behind-the-scenes story of Disney’s pioneering and triumphant global theme park and resort expansion. On June 16, 2016, Shanghai Disneyland Park, located in Pudong, Shanghai, opened to great fanfare and acclaim.
Celebrate The Holidays With Disney Parks!
Celebrate the holidays with Disney Parks and these six amazing books that will whisk you away to the Magical Kingdom from the safety of your own home! While it was clearly the right decision to temporarily close up shop, the Disney theme parks are a source of joy and happiness that millions of visitors around the world experience each year. For many of us, not being able to visit a Disney Park in person was definitely one of the many low lights from a year which seemed to excel at them.
The Disney Monorail
Deluxe jacketed hardcover book offers a lavish visual celebration of one of Disney’s most impactful and beloved creations: the Disney Monorail. Walt Disney is renowned as a cartoonist, filmmaker, showman, and entertainment icon. But he was also a farsighted futurist, a transportation buff with practical roots in the past, and visionary sights set on the future.
The Disney Christmas Card
For nearly nine decades, Disney artists have created annual seasonal art for greeting cards, advertisements, and in support of motion picture releases, TV programs, and the parks. Featuring beloved Disney characters and scenes, these seldom-published examples of vintage Disney art create a one-of-a-kind and festive collection perfect for holiday gift-giving.
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