CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – The United Soybean Board (USB) presented Mike Steenhoek with the Tom Oswald Legacy Award at the 2025 Commodity Classic, March 2-4 in Denver, Colo., in recognition of his many years of work in the U.S. soybean transportation industry.

“Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC), (based in Ankeny, Iowa) spent nearly 20 years improving the integrity of America’s infrastructure, ensuring U.S. soybean farmers can drive demand in the international marketplace,” a March 3 USB media statement said.

The Tom Oswald Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the U.S. soybean industry. The award honors the late Tom Oswald, who was a soy checkoff farmer-leader and a Cleghorn, Iowa, farmer. He served as an Iowa Soybean Association past president and USB director for many years.

“Mike Steenhoek knew Tom personally through the Iowa Soybean Association, and Tom played an active role in checkoff investments to build a reliable transportation system connecting soybeans to buyers,” the statement said. “Through Steenhoek’s career-long dedication, he’s elevated U.S. soybean farmers to a global leadership position. It’s not only brought value to the soybean industry, but benefited the transport of all U.S. commodities and agricultural inputs.”

Steenhoek said, “I am truly honored to receive this recognition, and I believe this is a testament to the collective efforts of the Soy Transportation Coalition, our partners, and all those committed to improving our road, rail and river systems to advance the soybean industry. There’s so much passion in agriculture to innovate, and it’s a real pleasure working alongside so many dedicated farmers focused on meeting the growing demands of U.S. soy across the globe.”

As STC’s executive director, Steenhoek leads a joint initiative of the USB, the American Soybean Association, and 14 state soybean boards, in addition to collaboration with other commodities over the years.

“His work has included key projects such as the Lower Mississippi Dredging Project, which saves farmers an estimated 13 cents per bushel of freight, and increases load by 500,000 bushels per ocean vessel,” the statement said. “He also played a significant role in increasing soybean meal exports from the Port of Grays Harbor to reach Southeast Asian markets, and modernizing the lock and dam system to increase capacity and efficiency.”

Philip Good, USB chair and Macon, Miss., farmer, said, “Mike Steenhoek has been a steadfast leader for the transportation sector that efficiently moves our soybeans from the farm to over 80 markets. He’s been pivotal in major improvements to our inland waterways and ports, served as the voice for farmers nationwide, and bridged the gaps between growers, processors, and the broader agricultural and transportation sectors.”

Steenhoek told Farm World, “I grew up in Des Moines (Iowa). My dad grew up on a farm in Prairie City (Iowa). My mom grew up on a farm in Monroe (Iowa). I would visit my grandfather’s farm during family visits while growing up. My dad was a pilot by profession, so we lived near the Des Moines airport growing up.”

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in Russian language and international business, as well as an MBA, both from the University of Iowa: “Since my work with the Soy Transportation Coalition requires understanding of and familiarity with economics, politics, and international markets, having that educational background has been helpful.”

As far as his work experience prior to his current position, he said, “My work with (Iowa) Sen. (Charles) Grassley’s office impressed upon me how farmer leadership and engagement on issues can help elevate those issues in our national discourse. I also saw how many of our elected officials regard transportation challenges in terms of urban congestion, and long commute times. Many elected officials do not understand the challenges of transporting freight, including agricultural freight.

“As executive director of the STC, my responsibilities include communicating the initiative, and the importance of transportation issues to soybean growers and processors; establishing and executing the organization’s strategic direction; and building collaborations with other affected industries,” he added.

Of the current issues facing the soybean transportation industry, he said, “Increasing export capacity at various regions of the country: the Mississippi Gulf, the Pacific Northwest, the Texas Gulf, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic Coast; promoting more cost-effective ways to replace and repair rural bridges; promoting greater trucking efficiency by increasing weight limits and providing the addition of a sixth axle.”

He said, “It is an honor to receive an award that includes the word ‘legacy.’ It is particularly an honor to receive an award that includes the name of my friend, Tom Oswald. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Tom for a number of years. He always brought integrity, intelligence and infinite curiosity to his role as a farmer leader. An organization with Tom Oswald as a member instantly became a better organization.”

Overall, he added, “A career in agriculture has the potential for endless learning and adventure. It is a dynamic industry that extends to every corner of the globe. It is also an industry that produces one of the greatest economic ripple effects in our country.

“The fact that we have a group of farmers planting and harvesting a crop results in so many other industries being able to thrive,” he said. “Finally, farmers are among the most honest and conscientious groups of people on the planet. It is truly a delight working on their behalf.”