NAFB Allied Industry Council member, Christine Tew, who is Director of Communications and Public Relations at the Missouri Soybean Association, was recognized as one of “30 Women Changing Politics” by The Missouri Times in its June 9, 2016, print edition. The 30 women were described in the announcement as “the gladiators in the arena who rarely receive headlines or notoriety, though they are more than worthy. This list has no state or statewide legislators, no legislative staff, yet their actions have a direct impact on policy each and every day.” Tew is entering her third year at the Missouri Soybean Association after handling communications for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The announcement said, “She has been an innovator in marketing the agriculture industry, changing how the Soybean Association is viewed both in the Capitol and outside of it. Each step in her career, every job she’s had, can be credited through her broad network of professional relationships, including mentors, advisors and colleagues and her commitment to raising the bar at every opportunity.” Earlier, she was named by The Missouri Times to the 2015 list of the 100+ people in the Missouri public policy process you need to know. In selecting her, they said, “Marketing the ag community has been done in a very traditional way for decades, but that is changing and the woman at the forefront of the developing social media, sports team partnerships, and motorsports is Christine Tew. She is adding a modern broad-based communication strategy while linking it to the political community. Other interest groups are now taking notice of what the Soybean Association is doing in hopes of copying it for themselves.”

In her position as Director of Communications and Public Relations for the Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, she oversees outreach and consumer education efforts, as well as planning events, working with the Association membership and publishing Missouri Soybean Farmer magazine. Also, she is a participant in the Missouri Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow program and volunteers with several community organizations. Previously, she held communications roles with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Missouri, having earned a BS in agricultural journalism and an MS in Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Christine currently resides in Jefferson City, MO. She started out certain that she wanted to be a writer, and maybe in agriculture, because there was a lot of that activity in southeastern Missouri where she grew up. “Getting to know people in the agriculture industry and visiting with working communicators showed me how broad the opportunities were and pushed me beyond my youthful tunnel vision,” she said. “Every step along my career path, every job I’ve had, has come about with the help of a mentor, colleague or other professional relationship. I greatly value the guidance and perspective those people have shared with me and am thankful for the opportunities I’ve been able to take advantage of with their support.” She adds, “Having a broad network of professional relationships has been so important to me, and I look forward to not only continuing to connect with new people, but also to helping others see and take advantage of new opportunities along the way.” Christine just returned from a two-week overseas trip to explore agriculture in Vietnam as part of her work with the Missouri Soybean Association and Merchandising Council and the Missouri Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow program.