Dumont farmer Tom Frisch is serving as secretary of the United Soybean Board, helping to increase demand for the half-million soybean farmers in the U.S. (MN Soybean)
Traverse County farmer Tom Frisch led the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council as chair for two years, helping to direct soy checkoff investments in research, value-added uses, developing new leaders and building markets. Now, after stepping down as Council chair in June 2025, Frisch is taking on a greater role with the United Soybean Board after being elected secretary during USB’s December board meeting in St. Louis.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity ahead this year to help my fellow farmers and our rural communities by investing in checkoff projects that can drive demand for our soybeans,” said Frisch, who will serve his second year on USB’s Executive Committee. “Our mission at USB is very similar to Minnesota’s – improving farmer profitability – just on a bigger scale.”
Frisch, who was elected to MSR&PC in 2019 and represents District 4, is a partner on his fourth-generation family farm. Frisch raises soybeans, corn, sunflowers and grapes. In addition to working with the family farming operation, Frisch also started his own crop consulting business after graduating from North Dakota State University in 2000 with a degree in agriculture economics and has served as a volunteer firefighter for the past 25 years. Frisch and his wife, Dr. Jane Vangsness Frisch, live two miles north of the original Felix Frisch and Son homestead.
Frisch, in collaboration with new USB Chair Brent Gatton and 75 USB volunteer farmer leaders, will assist in overseeing FY26 investments and priorities across the market segments of food, feed, fuel, industrial uses, exports and sustainable production, which effectively grow demand for U.S. soy, drive on-farm resilience and bring value to the nearly half-million U.S. soybean farmers.
In his role as secretary, Frisch will chair USB’s Feed, Fuel and Exports Action Team. Minnesota farmers Patrick O’Leary, Gene Stoel and Lawrence Sukalski also represent Minnesota on USB. O’Leary serves on the Infrastructure & Connectivity – Exports Action Team and Audit & Evaluation Committee; Stoel sits on the Health & Nutrition – Food Action Team; and Sukalski is a member of USB’s Health & Nutrition – Feed Action Team and Financial Audit Committee.
Minnesota Soybean
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