Ryan Findlay replaces Stephen Censky, who currently serves as deputy secretary of agriculture at USDA.

Jacqui Fatka, Policy editor

February 13, 2018

2 Min Read
ASA selects Findlay as new CEO

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.

Related:Censky nominated as USDA deputy secretary

“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.”

About the Author(s)

Jacqui Fatka

Policy editor, Farm Futures

Jacqui Fatka grew up on a diversified livestock and grain farm in southwest Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a minor in agriculture education, in 2003. She’s been writing for agricultural audiences ever since. In college, she interned with Wallaces Farmer and cultivated her love of ag policy during an internship with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, working in Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Capitol Hill press office. In 2003, she started full time for Farm Progress companies’ state and regional publications as the e-content editor, and became Farm Futures’ policy editor in 2004. A few years later, she began covering grain and biofuels markets for the weekly newspaper Feedstuffs. As the current policy editor for Farm Progress, she covers the ongoing developments in ag policy, trade, regulations and court rulings. Fatka also serves as the interim executive secretary-treasurer for the North American Agricultural Journalists. She lives on a small acreage in central Ohio with her husband and three children.

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