Bill Zurn is also a veteran of the North Dakota Air National Guard. He worked as a civil engineer at various domestic Air Force bases and retired as a senior master sergeant. Photo courtesy of the United Soybean Board
You’d be hard-pressed to find a farmer leader who has served Minnesota Soybean longer than Becker County farmer Bill Zurn, both as a checkoff leader and policy advocate.
From the beginning of biodiesel to the spawn of SoyFoam, Zurn has seen it all, having been involved with both the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) for more than a quarter century. Now, after multiple decades supporting soybeans through developing new markets, new varieties and new uses, he’s taking a step back to let the next generation of new leaders take over and send the checkoff to new heights.
“We always talk about getting younger farmers involved, but then you look around the room and the realization sets in,” Zurn said. “I’ve been involved long enough, and it’s time for someone else.”
Zurn was first elected to MSR&PC in 1997 at a time when soybeans were not the staple crop in northwestern Minnesota they grew to be today. At that time, only one of the top 20 counties in terms of soybean production in Minnesota were located in the northwest. But, thanks to new varieties developed via the soybean checkoff during Zurn’s tenure on the Council, now four of the top 10, including the top 2 in the state, are in northwest Minnesota. The region is now the largest soybean area – producing over 40 million bushels each year across nearly 1.2 million acres.
“The Council had a big part in that, in helping fund soybean research on new shorter-day varieties that would do well in the north,” Zurn said at the Northern Crops Institute in April 2026 following his penultimate Council meeting. “We actually worked with the U of M, as well, to host several test plots on our farm for research on things such as nitrogen and soybean aphids.”
As soybean acres grew, so did the need for MSR&PC to develop and invest in new uses. Over the years, Zurn has been an integral part of promoting some of those new uses, including biodiesel, soy crayons, soy ink and SoyFoam. But one of those investments literally leads to his farm. In summer 2022, Bill worked with Becker County to test a soy-based road sealant on a strip of County Road 14, a road that drives by his family farm near Callaway.
“The crops that I grow in my fields are being used in products to make the road that goes by my house more durable,” Zurn said. “When products like RePlay are being created, proving themselves with real results, there’s no questioning the value of investing Minnesota soybean checkoff dollars.”
Mike Youngerberg, MSR&PC director of product development & commercialization, has worked with Zurn across the decades of bringing value-added uses to market.
“Bill has always been very engaged with those people who we’ve done projects with, whether that’s the road sealant projects or biodiesel and Clean Fuels Alliance America, where he served as alternate board member,” Youngerberg said. “He always been one of those people who makes connections and knows how to use connections to help us push forward on projects.”
MSR&PC CEO Tom Slunecka said Zurn was always eager to reach out to his extensive contacts within agriculture to benefit soy checkoff projects.
“Of all the board members over the years who I’ve had a privilege to serve, no one is as effective or as tenacious in taking our story to find new partners in many different disciplines,” Slunecka said. “Bill has never been shy about promoting the activities of the Council to others and has been key in helping us find strategic partners.”
Bill of beans
Along with developing new uses for soybeans, some of Zurn’s most memorable moments with MSR&PC came in the form of looking for new and expanding markets. Over the years he was able to participate in trade missions to Japan, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and even Brazil and Chile alongside then Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
“Japan, which we were trying to get them to buy more soybean meal for their aquaculture, was very memorable as we got to visit the fish markets,” Zurn said. “I had probably the best por chop I’ve ever had in my life downtown in Japan, which was just a couple blocks from the processing plant and there was no smell, which spoke for how clean and neat they kept things.”
Closer to home, in 2015 Zurn attended a biodiesel-themed See For Yourself mission to Fort Worth, where he met future Council Chair Gail Donkers.
“It was great to see his involvement in the biodiesel area and how he was such a champion for all the soybean producers of Minnesota,” Donkers said. “Bill has had such an impact on our industry over the years, and we’re so grateful for his commitment to soybeans.”
You can also add countless trips to Commodity Classic, Washington D.C., Clean Fuels Alliance America conferences and an appointment to the United Soybean Board to his resume. In addition to travel, Zurn made an impact at home hosting a handful of trade team teams representing numerous countries on his family farm in Becker County. Farmer leadership is also a family affair for the Zurns. Bill’s wife of over 50 years, Karolyn, was chair of the Northern Crops Institute, a director with MSGA, served on the board of Minnesota Ag in the Classroom and was elected president of the Minnesota Agri-Women.
Educating his customers, along with correcting misconceptions, has always been important to Zurn.
“There was one time we had about 80 people over, and we were showing them our soybean field, but none of them wanted to go near it because they worried about snakes,” Zurn said. “I had to explain to them that there were no snakes here.”
‘The real deal’
Along with his two decades of experience with MSR&PC, Zurn also spent a half dozen years as a director with MSGA, including a stint as president from 2008-2010 when Minnesota moved from B2 to B5 (5% biodiesel). Always one to engage and never shy away from a challenge, one of Zurn’s favorite memories from his time on MSGA was when he invited then Sen. Al Franken to his farm and explained to the senator how farmers are supporting the environment.
“We were harvesting soybeans at the time, and it was the first time he had ever been on an actual working farm, so he hopped in the combine with me, and we had a little talk,” Zurn said. “I reminded him how photosynthesis works and showed him what our actual carbon footprint is and since that time he was on board with us.”
In 2020, Zurn went a step further toward promoting soil health when he enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, a voluntary initiative supported by MSGA. In addition to growing soybeans, corn, spring wheat and alfalfa, Bill and his family also plant cover crops and use conservation tillage.
We’re proving to the United States that we’re doing good sustainable and renewable practices here in Minnesota,” Zurn said. “Farming has changed. We’re not perfect, but we’ve always tried to do the best we can – with technology and precision ag – and meet the standards.”
A longtime friend of Zurn’s is none other than former Congressman Collin Peterson, who has engaged on agricultural issues with Zurn since the 1970s when he was still a state senator. He notes that Bill isn’t just a great farmer, but a worthy advocate for agriculture who has no reservations about speaking up for farmers.
“He’s the real deal and he tells you exactly how it is, whether you like it or not. That’s the kind of guy you want advocating for you because you don’t have to worry about whether he’s being sincere or not,” said Peterson, who was the former chair of the House Agriculture Committee. “He’s given me a lot of advice on the Farm Bill over the years.”
Zurn isn’t sure what’s next after nearly three decades of service to the soybean industry, but he is looking forward to gradually stepping back from the farm and letting his sons Eric and Nick continue to take over the operation.
“We’re graduating out,” Zurn said. “I just hope the kids keep trading and giving me the new tractors.”
Source: MN Soybean
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