The Illinois Soybean Association, representing 43,000 soybean farmers across the state, is committed to the following state and federal policy priorities in 2025. The policies were reviewed and approved by the Government Relations Committee during the December 2024 ISB/ISG board meeting.

Tim Scates, District 16 Director, is the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Government Relations Committee Chair and serves on the Governance Committee. Scates also serves as a representative for the Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), the Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) and the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC). He has a degree from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg and farms with his uncles, cousins, brother and father. He has memberships with the Illinois Corn Growers Association and Illinois Farm Bureau. He is a past Carmi Township trustee, a Regional Board of Schools Trustees #20 board member, a Southeastern Illinois College Foundation member and chair of the White County Democrats. He also is a past Bridge Medical Clinic board member.