Minnesota Soybean Council Receives Excellence in Communications Award

MANKATO, MN (02/27/2009)(readMedia)-- The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council's (MSR&PC) See for Yourself Program was recognized tonight with the United Soybean Board's Excellence in Communications Award. The award was presented during the American Soybean Association's Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic in Grapevine, TX.

Mike O'Leary, chairman of the MSR&PC's International Marketing Committee, accepted the award on the council's behalf.

"Since 2006, Minnesota's See for Yourself program has brought together soybean farmers, members of the ag community and the media, giving them an opportunity to see the results of our soybean checkoff investments," said O'Leary. "The See for Yourself Program truly illustrates the council's commitment to wisely choosing projects that will result in improving the profitability of soybean farmers. Allowing stakeholders to 'see for themselves,' provides valuable feedback. I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council."

In the past three years, Minnesota's See For Yourself programs have provided a hands-on look at export and international marketing programs, soybean research at the USDA-ARS lab in Beltsville, Maryland, and participation in the National Biodiesel Board's Conference and Expo.

The MSR&PC's See For Yourself program was the first of its kind to use soybean farmers as third-party evaluators. Each year, returning participants have shared their opinions of checkoff investments with members of the media and MSR&PC committees. Results have consistently shown increased knowledge and support of the soybean checkoff.

"See For Yourself has been such a successful evaluation tool that it has been used as a model program in other soybean states, as well as at the national level," O'Leary said. "Participants are always amazed to actually be able to see, firsthand, what their checkoff dollars are accomplishing."

The MSR&PC is made up of an elected board of 15 soybean producers from across the state. The mission of the council is to invest soybean checkoff dollars in well-defined research, marketing, education and commercialization programs designed to increase demand and thereby improve the profitability of Minnesota's soybean farmers.