Photo courtesy of Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council Vesta farmer George Goblish, at left, served as a board member with the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), a farmer-led program promoting exports of U.S. soy protein. Goblish was recently elected to serve on the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.

He has plenty of experience speaking out for Minnesota soybean growers. But Vesta farmer George Goblish said he’ll be changing his focus, as he takes on a new role with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.

While he’s worked with policy issues for soy in the past, “Now, I’m switching over to the promotion and research side,” Goblish said this week. The change was something that would be interesting and challenging, he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Last week, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council announced the results of elections to the council’s board of directors. Minnesota farmers elected Goblish to his first term on MSR&PC. Goblish will represent District 7, which includes southwest Minnesota. His three-year term begins July 1.

Goblish has a long history of working in policy and advocacy for soybean farmers. He is a past president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, and is a member of the American Soybean Association board of directors. His term with the ASA ends later this year, MSR&PC said.

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council Board is charged with directing soybean checkoff dollars to increase profitability to Minnesota soybean farmers, MSR&PC spokespeople said in a news release. The 15 directors on the board focus on checkoff dollars in three core areas: research, promotion and education.

Goblish will be replacing Gene Stoel of Lake Wilson, who will be retiring from MSR&PC after serving for six terms and 18 years.

“It’s going to be huge shoes to fill with Gene. He’s a wealth of knowledge and I plan to reach out to him to tap his knowledge,” Goblish said in a news release.

Stoel’s term ends in June, MSR&PC spokespeople said.

Several MSR&PC directors were re-elected this spring. Tom Frisch of Dumont, Gail Donkers of Faribault, Joe Serbus of Bird Island and Glen Groth of Ridgeway were all re-elected to the board of directors.

Goblish said some of his priorities as an MSR&PC director included working to open new markets for Minnesota soybeans. Most of the state’s soybeans are exported, he said.

“We’ve really got to start working to open up new markets,” Goblish said.

He also said promoting the use of soybeans for biodiesel is another high priority.

“Local use of soybeans is always a challenge,” Goblish said. Biofuels were one area where soybeans could be used domestically.

In a news release, Goblish said he was also interested in the Council’s work in promoting SoyFoam. SoyFoam is a soy-based firefighting foam which does not contain PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”

Goblish said working with organizations like the MSR&PC was one way to help Minnesota soybean farmers be heard.

“You need to have a voice in everything,” he said.