ISA Awards Lynn Clarkson 2011 Excellence in Market Development Honor
Lynn Clarkson, president of Clarkson Grain Co, Inc., Cerro Gordo, Ill., and managing director for both Clarkson Soy Products, LLC, and American Inland Port, LLC, in Beardstown, Ill., was awarded today the 2011 Excellence in Market Development honor from the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). Clarkson has devoted his career to helping develop domestic and international markets for identity preserved (IP) crops, mostly for human consumption, including selected varieties of soybeans.
"Lynn Clarkson has been one of the frontrunners and leaders in molding the identity preserved grain industry, and has worked diligently to assist ISA with building programs and helping soybean farmers find ways to enhance their profitability," says David Niekamp, ISA director and soybean farmer from Coatsburg, Ill.
Clarkson is known for promoting common ground among conventional, biotech, non-biotech and organic farmers around the value of purity on quality. He has developed a soy cleaning and conditioning center and has the only company currently making organic soy lecithin for clients in the U.S., Asia and the European Union. He is involved with a food conditioning and marketing center in Piatt County and an IP and commodity barge station in Beardstown.
Clarkson has other projects currently underway, including a program for containers on barges at the AIP barge facility in Beardstown. He has received awards from the University of Illinois and the U.S. Navy for his industry service, and has been invited to speak on behalf of soy programs at the University of Illinois, Texas A&M and the American Oil Chemists Society.
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is the statewide organization for Illinois soybean growers. The farmers on its board administer soybean checkoff funds to support research, promotions, and educational programs designed to increase demand for Illinois soybeans and administer legislation and membership programs. For more information, visit: www.ilsoy.org