Pennies and Politics My grandfather was a great many things. He was a well-respect- ed commercial real estate broker, a beloved servant to his commu- nity and neighbors, a devoted family man, a trusted advisor, and a keen observer of people. He looked for the opportunity to engage with others; to listen, to learn, and above all, to respect the feelings and opinions of others no matter how contrary they ran to his own. He used to say, “Don’t throw away the pennies. They add up in the end.” It was my grandfather who encouraged me to travel the world where I would grow in my appreciation for other cultures, people, governments, and traditions. Being in foreign countries, I learned to value customs I didn’t yet understand. I learned to be open-minded and adventurous. I had to trust people who were there to help, and get comfortable with being in unfamiliar situations. The day I told my grandfather I was interested in pursuing a career in the political space, he made arrangements to take me to my very first political action meeting. I was just a kid. But standing in that room, beside my grandfather and his friends, I remember feeling 10 feet tall. He showed me that politics are a vehicle for giving back; a debt we’re called to pay and a mission we’re called to serve. Over the years, I went to my grandfather again and again for professional and personal advice. He saw me through heartbreak and celebration, failure and success. I was confident soliciting his counsel because I trusted him, I knew how much he cared for me, and I knew how much wisdom, perspective, and insights he stood to share. At Illinois Soybean Association, we have the same opportunity today. Legislators from across the country, and farmers from across the state, are leaning on our expertise, and making better-in- formed choices as a result. They’ve learned that we have their best interests at heart, and they know our perspectives are born from current data, market research, and collective industry knowledge. Being a source of information is an earned privilege, only possi- ble where there is trust, concern, and genuine connection. There’s no objective metric of trustworthiness. This magazine issue, dedicated to the success of ILSoyAdvisor, is representative of the prestige ISA has earned as an information hub and an actionable, results-driven resource. As an organization, we endeavor to continue to earn your trust and confidence, sharing facts that inform, issues that matter, and stories that inspire. One page, one person... one penny at a time. 8 September 2021 MIKE LEVIN Senior Director of Government Affairs Illinois Soybean Association
