DENVER — Members of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) elected the 2025-26 Board of Directors Saturday, March 1, during the organization’s annual meeting prior to Commodity Classic in Denver, Colo.
USSEC’s board comprises 16 members representing various stakeholders from the U.S. Soy industry. Four seats represent the American Soybean Association (ASA), four seats represent the United Soybean Board (USB), and eight seats represent trade, industry and state organizations.
“U.S. Soy is America’s No. 1 agricultural export, which contributed $31.2 billion to the U.S. economy during the last marketing year,” shared Jim Sutter, USSEC Chief Executive Officer. “Our board leaders are key to guiding growth and important contributors to U.S. Soy’s mission of differentiating and elevating a preference for U.S. Soy and attaining market access.”
Janna Fritz, an ASA director and farmer from Bad Axe, Mich., was elected as Chair for a 12-month term.
“It’s truly an honor to serve as USSEC Board Chair,” said Fritz, during her acceptance remarks following elections. “I look forward to working closely with my peers and colleagues across the industry and customers in international markets to ensure U.S. Soy continues to be recognized as the gold standard when it comes to providing protein, be it for feed rations for animals or human nutrition.”
Fritz and her husband, Joel, operate their sixth-generation family farm producing soybeans, corn, wheat, triticale and dry edible beans on approximately 1,200 acres. They have two sons, Wesley and Zachary. Fritz also serves as the president of DF Seeds, where she is only the third brand president in the company’s history.
USSEC’s 2025-26 Board of Directors
(* indicates new to the board)
Executive Committee
- Chair – Janna Fritz, Bad Axe., Mich.
- Vice Chair – Mike McCranie, Claremont, S.D.
- Second Vice Chair – Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, Nebo, Ill.
- Secretary – Scott Gaffner, Illinois Soybean Association, Greenville, Ill.
- Treasurer – Craig Pietig, Ag Processing, Inc.
Allied Sub-Class
- Joe Dierickx*, Iowa Farm Bureau, DeWitt, Iowa
- Scott Gaffner*, Illinois Soybean Association, Greenville, Ill.
- Joel Schreurs, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Tyler, Minn.
Exporter Sub-Class
- Clayton Charles*, FS Grain LLC
- Bobby Ewalt*, Bunge North America, Inc.
- Tony Hill, Archer Daniels Midland
- Craig Pietig, Ag Processing, Inc.
- Scott Sinner, SB&B Foods LLC
ASA Appointments
- Janna Fritz, Bad Axe, Mich.
- Mike Koehne, Greensburg, Ind.
- Randy Miller, Lacona, Iowa
- Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, Nebo, Ill.
USB Appointments
- Tim Bardole*, Rippey, Iowa
- Mike McCranie, Claremont, S.D.
- Cindy Pulskamp, Hillsboro, N.D.
- Reggie Strickland, Mount Olive, N.C.
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This press release is funded in part by the soy checkoff.
About the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC):
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of U.S. Soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in 93 countries internationally. USSEC members represent the soy supply chain including U.S. Soy farmers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses, and agricultural organizations. USSEC is funded by the soy checkoff, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service matching funds, and industry. Visit ussec.org for the latest information and news about USSEC and U.S. Soy internationally.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
- Kerrey Kerr-Enskat, USSEC Director of Communications, +1 (515) 823-1848, kenskat@ussec.org
- Erin Worrell, USSEC Communications Manager, +1 (830) 998-4624, eworrell@ussec.org
