WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2017 - Members of the United Soybean Board have selected Polly Ruhland to serve as their next chief executive officer, succeeding John Becherer who plans to retire at the end of 2017 after more than 20 years of service to the checkoff.
Multiple sources confirmed the decision to Agri-Pulse. USB has yet to officially announce the news.
Ruhland currently serves as chief executive officer of the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB), where she is responsible for stewarding cattle farmer and rancher investments into the federal $1-per-head beef checkoff.
Polly Ruhland
The soybean checkoff is supported by soybean farmers with individual contributions of 0.5 percent of the market price per bushel sold each season. The United Soybean Board is composed of 73 volunteer farmer-leaders appointed to the board by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Ruhland brings an extensive background in beef industry, non-profit management, strategic planning and communications to her position. Her previous service includes a stint as the vice president of planning and evaluation for CBB; senior positions in corporate and industry relations, communications and issues management at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; and director of communications for the North American Limousin Foundation and the American Gelbvieh Association. She also served as Institutional Animal Care and Use coordinator for Colorado State University.
Ruhland holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in agriculture from Colorado State University. She and her husband live in Castle Rock, Colo.
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