We are sad to learn that Ray Gaesser passed following a farm accident. He was always so friendly and fun to talk with him. He was a former Iowa Soybean Association and American Soybean Association president. Here is an interview from back in March, 2018.
ASA President John Heisdorffer (left) presents Ray Gaesser with the Distinguished Leadership Award.
Last week at Commodity Classic, the former American Soybean Association (ASA) president from Corning, Iowa received the organization’s Distinguished Leadership Award for his years of service to the industry on the state and national level. Gaesser also participated in a grower perspective panel at the Bayer AgVocacy Forum, where he talked about the importance of advocating for agriculture. “One of the ways is to really share what we’re doing on the farm,” he said. “Folks want to know more about their food and how we grow it.”
During an interview at the forum, Gaesser talked about why he is running for Iowa agriculture secretary. “I’m really passionate about agriculture, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” said Gaesser. “I just want to be able to give back from all the benefits I’ve had as a farmer for 40 years in Iowa.” Gaesser has been on some 50 trade missions to help promote agricultural exports, which are vitally important for Iowa farmers. “Those relationships that you build are really important in these times when there’s lots of competition.”
Listen to that interview here: Interview with Ray Gaesser, Iowa farmer