“If you aren’t at the table, you’ll be on the menu.”
This phrase, heard throughout the halls of Congress from legislators and lobbyists alike, describes the sometimes harsh reality of the political sphere and showcases the importance of being involved in our country’s legislative action.
Few know this better than Lester Voegeli.
Voegeli with his wife, Carol, were the third generation farming the Voegeli Homestead near Beresford, S.D., and have been longtime advocates for agriculture on and off the farm.
The couple was elated when POET Bioprocessing – Hudson S.D. (formerly Sioux River Ethanol) came online in 2004. “This was a whole new ball game for farming. It gave us new markets,” said Voegeli.
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Lester Voegeli pictured center next to then-Representative Kristi Noem with the South Dakota Delegation at a D.C. Reception in 2012
Voegeli served on the POET Board of Directors for years, and he took that role with honor. He made frequent trips to Washington, D.C., to lobby on behalf of all bioethanol producers. His enthusiasm and genuine outlook were contagious to everyone around him.
Back in the early 2010s, it seemed like everyone was trying to put biofuels on the menu. If it weren’t for the trailblazers like Voegeli, who trekked to Washington to promote biofuels and be heard, it’s hard to know where the industry would be now.
Back then, on Capitol Hill, the industry’s messaging was different. We had to spend a lot of time and money debunking myths perpetuated by our competition. However, just like today, spending time educating legislators was key to getting the truth out.
All our advocates have a unique story to tell about their involvement in the biofuels industry, and Voegeli was no different. He talked about “start to finish,” meaning he started the seed in the ground, took care of it, and saw it be processed into many products, including biofuel and animal feed. Many other biofuel champions got to see firsthand this “start to finish” message resonate with lawmakers and their staff.
Since those days, the messaging on Capitol Hill has changed. It has evolved into educating lawmakers about low-carbon opportunities like CCS and biofuels playing a key role in climate solutions. While the myths from back in the day have been debunked, biofuel still faces plenty of opposition — but the facts are on our side, and this industry is well poised to continue overcoming any obstacles we may face.
