Insights from a South Dakota Soybean Leader

By Scout Nelson

Brandon Wipf, a farmer from Huron, South Dakota, has taken an active role in national soybean organizations. Recently, during a break from fieldwork caused by cold weather, he shared his experiences serving as a South Dakota representative on the American Soybean Association (ASA) Board of Directors.

Wipf recently completed a term on the Commodity Classic board. He found the role rewarding as it gave him insight into the trade show business and how it connects farmers with companies that want to advertise to them. Understanding these needs helps support the broader agriculture industry and strengthens the value of these events for growers.

In addition to his board roles, Wipf has represented ASA in Farmers for Monarchs. This group promotes conservation efforts for monarch butterflies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering whether to classify monarchs as a threatened species. “I just recently wrapped up a term on the Commodity Classic board,” said Wipf. “That was very interesting and rewarding to learn, I guess, about the trade show business and how that plays into the work we do as an association, but also broadly in the agriculture industry and getting to understand the needs of the companies that want to advertise to farmers and how to match that up with what farmers are looking for out of a trade show. So, I found that very rewarding.”

As spring arrives, Wipf is preparing for planting. After planting spring wheat and cover crops, he is waiting for warmer weather and more rain before planting row crops. South Dakota has been dry except for some recent rain, so moisture is needed to support crop growth.

“That’s not foreign to us,” said Wipf. “Farming in South Dakota, we’re often always looking for that next rain and hoping and praying for it. But we’ll get our crop in the ground no matter what in the next few weeks and we’ll see what comes.”

His experiences show the close connection between farm leadership, conservation efforts, and daily farming challenges faced by producers in South Dakota and beyond.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-gilaxia