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United Soybean Board Announces Departure of CEO Polly Ruhland

United Soybean Board (USB) Chief Executive Officer, Polly Ruhland, will leave her position effective December 31, 2023. Ruhland, who led the organization for the past six years, played a pivotal role in driving significant organizational changes and establishing a solid foundation for the future of USB.

During the past six years, the United Soybean Board undertook a transformative journey marked by numerous accomplishments and milestones, including developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan, which buttressed USB’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and market development.

Ruhland’s service includes hiring and training a staff of talented professionals whose expertise and passion have been instrumental in advancing USB’s initiatives and programs. Additionally, Ruhland managed a significant governance restructuring, ensuring streamlined decision-making processes and enhanced collaboration among board members and staff.

“Polly has been a visionary leader for USB during a very transformative time,” says Meagan Kaiser, Chair of the United Soybean Board. “A true servant-leader, her biggest contribution and lasting legacy is building a first-class staff that we can rely on. She inspires me and other farmer leaders to think big picture and will leave the board in a better place than when she started. We are grateful for her dedication to the U.S. soybean industry and American agriculture.”

Under Ruhland’s leadership, the organization initiated and executed a robust evaluation program, ensuring that USB’s activities align with its strategic goals and deliver meaningful results for soybean farmers.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.