Ryan Findlay replaces Stephen Censky, who currently serves as deputy secretary of agriculture at USDA.
The American Soybean Assn. (ASA) announced Monday the selection of Ryan Findlay as its new chief executive officer. Findlay replaces Stephen Censky, who left ASA in October 2017 after confirmation by the U.S. Senate to be deputy secretary of agriculture.
For the last four years, Ryan has worked for global agricultural company Syngenta, focusing on freedom-to-operate issues affecting farmers. In addition, his seven-year tenure with the Michigan Farm Bureau included work on two farm bills, international trade, climate change and regulatory issues.
“ASA is extremely pleased to have found someone of Ryan’s caliber and experience to lead us into our next chapter as a first-class U.S. commodity organization,” said ASA president John Heisdorffer, a soybean producer from Keota, Iowa. “Ryan’s background growing up on a farm and working for the Michigan Farm Bureau and for Syngenta give him the right combination of life and work experience that will serve ASA well in the coming years.”
Findlay is a native of Caro, Mich., where his family still farms row crops. He earned a degree in political science from Western Michigan University and a master's of business from Northwood University in Midland, Mich. Ryan, his wife Gretchen and their two children will be relocating to the St. Louis, Mo., area, where he will work out of ASA’s headquarters.
“I am honored to be selected to lead a premier policy organization that I have worked with and admired for years,” Findlay said. “I look forward to building on Steve Censky’s strong legacy as ASA and its state affiliates continue to lead the public debate on key policy issues, including farm risk management, international trade and rural infrastructure.”
The National Biodiesel Board congratulated Findlay, with board CEO Donnell Rehagen saying, “ASA and its membership have been leaders in the advancement of the biodiesel industry since the beginning. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship under Findlay’s guidance as we grow the rural economy, create jobs and add value to farm commodities through the production of America’s advanced biofuel: biodiesel.”
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