Becca Waldo

Ashtabula County

Becca Waldo and her husband farm about 500 acres of soybeans in Ashtabula County, growing all food-grade soybeans. These beans are typically sold to House Foods for premium tofu or are marketed to Japan. Becca also helps her dad, the Ohio Soybean Council Chairman, operate their multi-generation family farm. In addition to growing corn and soybeans, the farm also operates a public grain storage facility in partnership with Centerra Co-op. Now that Becca and her husband have started their own family, she appreciates how the Ohio Soybean Council and the soybean checkoff keeps the demand for Ohio soybeans strong.

Q. WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE OHIO SOYBEAN CHECKOFF?

I see the Ohio Soybean Council as the backbone of what protects our beans. They are working for me and other farmers to help promote the different ways to use soybeans so that they can keep the value strong. I definitely believe in the Ohio soybean checkoff. For me to do my part, giving a couple of cents per bushel to know that someone is looking out for the Ohio soybean market and my best interests … I’m okay with that.

Q. HOW IS THE OHIO SOYBEAN COUNCIL DRIVING THE MARKET FOR YOUR SOYBEANS?

Before I was farming, I had the chance to go to New Jersey and visit where we send our soybeans. I got to tour the plant and see what the beans actually become. It helped me make sense of the process, the different soy products, and how Ohio soybeans can help and affect different places in the world. The Ohio Soybean Council does a good job of building relationships with those different markets. From when I started farming to now, I’ve already seen a lot of expansion.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEW USES FOR SOYBEANS BEING DEVELOPED?

I have used the new soy-based bar & chain oil and it worked great! It’s amazing to me what Airable Research Lab has worked with and the uses they have found. It’s really cool they are able to fund and commit to this research locally and not farm it out to other companies. The products I am most excited about Airable creating are things that could help our environment with a soy plant-based alternative.

Plant-based products are good for the earth, sustainable, and will always be here. So these products are easy choices for consumers to make and will stick around for a long time.

Q. WHY DO YOU THINK THE OHIO SOYBEAN COUNCIL IS EFFECTIVE AT WHAT THEY DO?

I like thinking of our checkoff as an insurance plan. Just me as a little farmer… I would not be able to do what a program like the Ohio Soybean Council can do with the checkoff money. I’m glad to have somebody working for us. They take that small little portion of my money, combine it with everyone else’s funds, and invest it so it’s working for me and driving the demand for our beans even higher.