MI Soybean Association names new director

At the Michigan Soybean Association’s annual meeting on Dec. 9, 2009, Bill Spike, Owosso, was elected as an At-Large Director. His position represents statewide broad planning and policy making decisions for Michigan soybean growers.

“I believe each of us has an obligation to do what we can to promote and improve our industry and community,” Spike said. “That is the reason I volunteered to be a candidate for the MSA, and I thank the members for electing me. I take the trust placed in me very seriously, and I hope I can help this organization move forward in a manner that will be of the most possible benefit to the soybean farmers of Michigan.”

Spike has been a director of the Farm Bureau Board in Shiawassee County, a district Board member for Michigan Farm Bureau, Director of Old Kent Bank for 22 years, and Chairman of the Shiawassee County 4- H Dairy Barn Fund. Nearly $30,000 was raised and numerous volunteers were organized to build a dairy barn with milking facilities at the new county fairgrounds.

Spike is owner and operator of Spike Farms, a second generation 1,000 acre, cash crop and former dairy farm in Shiawassee and Saginaw counties. He raises soybeans, corn, and wheat and is also a licensed real estate broker and President of MI-LAND Reality, working primarily in the area of farmland and rural housing. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Production at Michigan State University in 1965.

*About the MSA

The Michigan Soybean Association is a non-profit organization funded by membership and corporate support. MSA members are also members of the American Soybean Association. They focus primarily on legislative and policy issues, which cannot be funded by checkoff dollars. Policy work includes areas such as lobbying Congress, helping create the Farm Bill, and influencing international trade agreements. Every soybean farmer has benefited and profited from the policies MSA and ASA have helped create, from incentives for soy biodiesel to the safety net in the Farm Bill; from direct payments to increased exports of soybeans, soybean meal, pork and poultry. For more information, see www.michigansoybean.org/ MSASite/msahome.html or www.soygrowers.com.