Five new soybean farmers were elected this past summer to serve as Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Board Directors. These five directors and farmers, represent central, western and southeastern Illinois. They join the ISA Board consisting of 24 volunteer farmers who govern our organization’s use of checkoff and non-checkoff funds. Broken down, 18 district directors represent regional areas, and six at-large directors represent the state.

Brad Zimmerman
District 5 Director

Brad resides in Groveland with his wife, Angela. He farms in Tazewell County, raising conventional and organic corn, soybeans and wheat with Wildermuth Farms and Wild Organics.

Brad is also the owner of SeedOnomy and Targeted Plant Nutrition. SeedOnomy helps farmers grow more corn by placing the right hybrid on the right acre to maximize performance. Through Targeted Plant Nutrition, Brad manufacturers liquid crop nutrition.

He has also been a longstanding Associate Director with Tazewell County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Brad is looking forward to his involvement with the Illinois Soybean Board. “I have had many people pour into me and I would like to give back,” said Brad. “Also, I enjoy meeting new people.”

Doug Martin
District 9 Director

Doug resides in Mt. Pulaski and raises soybeans and corn with his family in Logan, Macon, Sangamon and DeWitt counties. He is married to Erin and they have four children: Drew, Alec, Luke and Ella, with the Drew returning to the farm this fall.

Doug graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture production. Since then, he was a 2004 graduate of The Illinois Ag Leadership Program, a graduate of the 2006 Cultivating Master Farmer Program, former chairman of the Land of Lincoln Soil Savers, former member of the Ag Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and former director for the Logan County Soil and Water Conservation District and recently completed the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership to become a Soil Health Ambassador for Illinois.

“When the opportunity to join the ISA Board presented itself, I decided to take it,” said Doug. “I am eager to learn more about how ISA operates and how I can contribute to the organization.”

Jonathan Griffel
District 12 Director

Jon is a sixth-generation family farmer in Macoupin County where he farms alongside his dad, raising soybeans, corn, wheat, and a beef cattle herd. He resides on the farm with his wife, Kristin, and their two children, Jamie and Claire. Jon also works as a real estate broker.

He currently serves on the Illinois Farm Bureau State Young Leader Committee after serving three years as chair of his county Young Leaders and completed the Agriculture Leaders of Tomorrow program. In 2024, Jon was honored to serve as an Illinois Farm Families Ambassador, highlighting life on the farm through social media and consumer interactions. That same year, he was named an ISA “20 Under 40” winner. Jon was also ISA’s first LEAD participant to be elected to the ISA Board of Directors.

“I joined the Soybean Board because of the exciting potential of the crop and as an opportunity to give back to an industry that has given me so much,” said Jonathan. “Soybeans are such an interesting commodity because of the diversity of products that can be made from them.”

Trent Maxwell
District 14 Director

Doug resides in Martinsville and raises corn, soybeans and contracted feeder hogs in Clark County with his family. He also is a Beck’s dealer and does contract sales through Helena Agri-Enterprises and previously worked for Winfield United.

Doug was a volunteer firefighter for 18 years, is presently on the local school board and on the Martinsville Ag Fair Board.

He is married to Jordan and they have three kids: Jackson, Haddie and Peyton.

“Everything is about networking,” said Trent. “Joining the Soybean Board is a great opportunity to continue to network with people and hear different viewpoints and understand what our soybean checkoff dollars are doing. I also look forward to bringing my own perspective.”

Lance Tarochione
At-Large Director

Lance resides in Maquon and farms in Knox, Fulton, Warren and McDonough counties, raising soybeans, corn and hay. He also works a Technical Agronomist for Bayer Crop Science.

Lance is a past president of the Spoon River Valley District 4 School Board, past president of the Fulton County Farm Bureau board and formerly served on the board of directors for The Bank of Yates City. 

Lance earned a bachelors and master’s degree in Crop Science from the University of Illinois. His three young adult children, Cole, Audrey and Ashley, are all involved in the agriculture industry.

“I have always enjoyed representing agriculture,” said Lance. “Being a farmer, an agronomist and now an ISA Board Director gives me many opportunities to represent agriculture and farmers. I look forward to learning and contributing to the goals and initiatives of ISA.”