By Blake Jackson
Research plays a vital role in the Kentucky Soybean Board's mission to support the profitability of farm families. A significant portion of its budget is allocated to production research and exploring new uses for soybeans, reflecting its commitment to the agricultural community.
To strengthen its focus on research, the Kentucky Soybean Board recently appointed Scott Mitchell to a new role. Mitchell, a seasoned professional from Clinton, brings 38 years of experience in the agriculture industry. He previously served as a retail location manager and Division Seed Manager at Nutrien Ag Solutions and as a territory manager for Pioneer. This appointment marks a return to familiar territory for Mitchell, who served on the Kentucky Soybean Association Board as an industry representative from 2002 to 2011.
“Working in ag will always be home to me,” said Mitchell. “In the ag community, family comes first, and the farmers we serve and our coworkers become family and lifelong friends.”
"I have known Scott since we were at the University of Kentucky together," said Executive Director Debbie Ellis. "He is well-connected in Kentucky agriculture, and I think he will be able to hit the ground running. Research — figuring out what projects our farmers want to see and working with unbiased university researchers to ensure that those projects are executed and the results shared with the farmers — is important to our Board’s leadership, and having a seasoned professional in this role is going to be beneficial to that part of our investment portfolio.”
Mitchell’s academic credentials include a degree in agricultural education from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in agriculture from Murray State University. After retiring from Nutrien, he is eager to engage directly with farmers again, helping them address challenges and improve profitability.
As part of the Board’s updated strategic plan, Mitchell will work closely with farmers across the state to understand their production challenges and identify research projects to address them. His role also includes simplifying technical research findings for practical use by farmers.
Mitchell will officially begin his role in January, with his first public appearance scheduled for the Kentucky Commodity Conference on January 16 at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green. Farmers can look forward to welcoming him as he begins this important work to advance agricultural research and support Kentucky's farming community.
Photo Credit: meeting-pexels-fauxels
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Government & Policy