The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and Western Illinois University (WIU) today signed an agreement for an Endowed Soybean Support Fund for the support of soybean research and other soybean related activities in the areas of agribusiness, food and nutrition, and international business at the University.

ISA works for the benefit of Illinois soybean farmers, providing funding for research, promotion, and education programs to increase demand for Illinois soybeans and improve soybean related profit potential.  Their investments in higher education are targeted to benefit the farmers and people of Illinois, to attract more funding to higher education, and to support improvements in international marketing.  In addition, their investments in higher education have helped find, attract and keep highly qualified professors who do soybean related outreach or research on Illinois’ university campuses.

George Dixon, soybean farmer from Colchester and ISA Vice President, represented ISA at the ceremony.  “We appreciate the significant contributions that WIU has made to the profitability of soybean producers.  Through the research and education programs at WIU, we have seen a commitment to soybean-related programs and are pleased to be able to enter into this agreement to further cement the relationship between WIU and ISA. 

The annual earnings of this $300,000 endowment will be matched 100 percent by the University.  The fund will be used to support soybean-related research and education within WIU and their Department of Agriculture.  Specifically, this fund will be used to support those activities and programs designed to assist in the retention and recruitment of critical faculty and researchers.  The fund will be administered through the WIU Foundation with the Chair of the Department of Agriculture serving as the fiscal agent with input from an advisory committee consisting of representatives of ISA and WIU. “We are greatly appreciative for the Illinois Soybean Association's contribution which will support our outstanding agriculture department. The Association's commitment to higher education is to be commended," WIU President Al Goldfarb said. "The endowment will give our students additional opportunities to engage in research-related activities and will give our faculty enhanced opportunities for research and discovery."