Kenlon Johannes
Kenlon Johannes (born March 2, 1949), is an American businessman born in Leigh, Nebraska. He was involved with the development of the biodiesel industry in the United States. He has served as the Administrator and CEO of the Kansas Soybean Commission and Association[1]since 2001. His continued advocacy for biodiesel spans three decades, and he is credited with being the driving force behind the growth of soybean oil within the biodiesel industry. He has also served as the Executive Director of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, the Missouri Soybean Association, and the Wisconsin Corn and Soybean Program. [2]
College and early career
Johannes earned a Bachelors of Science degree from Concordia University Nebraska in Education, and performed graduate studies at the University of Nebraska. Kenlon taught grade-school in four states for 4 1/2 years, before he returned to Nebraska to where he raised soybeans and corn on his family farm. Johannes' involvement in soybean advocacy began there, where he joined the Nebraska Soybean Association, followed by the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff Board in 1980. Johannes became interested in the concept of soy-diesel, after reading a report by the American Soybean Association that involved using soybean oil in a diesel engine. He was appointed as Nebraska's representative to the American Soybean Development Foundation in 1982 and was later elected assistant treasurer. In 1986 he became the executive director of both the Wisconsin Soybean Association and the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, as well as their checkoff boards.
In 1988 he was hired as the executive director for the Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC).[2]
Biodiesel and soybean advocacy
In 1991, while serving as executive director of the Missourri Soybean Association, Johannes expanded efforts to use soybean oil in industrial applications such as biodiesel as an alternative to petrodiesel.[3] Later that year, Johannes arranged the first commercial sale of soy diesel to exclusively fuel a 1991 Dodge truck, purchased by the Missouri Soybean Association.[2][4]
Johannes spoke to farmers at the 1992 Corn Soybean Expo in Fargo, ND. He explained the process of transesterification and its resulting byproducts and their respective uses. Johannes told the group that the market for soy diesel could top 150 million gallons in the following 3 years.[2]
Johannes resigned his position with the Missouri Soybean in 1993 and was hired as the first executive director of the National SoyDiesel Development Board (NSDB),[2] (later renamed the National Biodiesel Board), where he played a critical role in creating a foundation for policy, research, and development of biodiesel using soybean oil and other oils and fats.
In June 1993, Johannes presented a paper on U.S. farmers' efforts to commercialize biodiesel at the International Energy Agency on "Vegetable Oils as Transportation Fuels in the United States," at the University of Pisa in Pisa, Italy.[2][5] That same year, the NSDB under Johannes' leadership, began funding pilot programs to facilitate using 20% biodiesel blends in ten transit agencies across the nation, including Los Angelos, California. The use of biodiesel was estimated to cut 5,400 pounds of pollution in a six-month period.[6]
Johannes served as staff for the National Soy Fuels Advisory Committee (NSFAC), which was created in 1992 by state Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs) for the purpose of establishing the groundwork and strategy to create a national demand for soy diesel.[2] Later in 1992, under Johannes' leadership, and after commissioning a study to help chart the course for its members, NSFAC formed the National SoyDiesel Development Board (NSDB) to supervise and implement soy diesel research and market development projects.[2] NDSB is touted as the first trade association formed to create an industry that didn't yet exist.[7]
In 1995, Johannes and two colleagues submitted a 3-step marketing plan to the National Biodiesel Board, which helped to expand the industry and to establish the framework for creating quality standards for biodiesel production.[8]
Since the creation of the NSDB (and subsequent orgs), soybean producers have seen a 15% growth of price support through biodiesel alone,[2] and Johannes' has continued to advocate for the environmental benefits of soy diesel's use to the nation's largest fleets. [9] [10] In 2017, the National Biodiesel Board featured Johannes in their opening video advertisement where Johannes reflects on the progression of biodiesel throughout the years.[11]
Johannes advocated for the growth of the biodiesel industry in a 2016 EPA hearing where he urged the EPA to recognize the significant reduction of carbon that results from biodiesel use. He also emphasized the positive effects on the economy that have come as a byproduct from the creation of the industry.[12]
In written 2016 testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Johannes requested that the EPA continue to raise volume number requirements of biodiesel.[13]
In September 2017, Johannes traveled to Japan as a member of the "Heartland Team" with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to meet with buyers of U.S. pork and beef.[14]
Awards and honors
- 2009: The National Biodiesel Board presented Johannes with the National Biodiesel Board Pioneer Award in honor of his service to the biodiesel industry.[7] [15] [16]
- 2012: The Great Plains Canola Association (GPCA) inducted Johannes into their hall of fame. Johannes served as the first executive director from 2007-2012; he was the second person to receive that recognition.[17]
- 2008: Johannes was inducted into the Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame. Johannes' softball career spanned twenty-four years, and he played men's fast-pitch teams in Leigh, Creston, Columbus, and Fremont, Nebraska. Johannes regularly played shortstop, as well as every other position including pitcher. The left-handed batter Johannes was known for his speed and quickness, with a highest yearly batting average of .537. Johannes is noted as an innovator to the sport. He wore batting gloves before they existed on the market, a batting helmet before the rules required it, and made use of the first aluminum bat in 1970.[18]
References
- ↑ "Kansas Soybean Commission & Association". www.kansassoybeans.org. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Shurtleff, Akiko, William, Akiko (2017). History of Biodiesel-- With Emphasis on Soy Biodiesel (1900-2017) Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook (PDF) (1st ed.). Lafayette, CA: Soyinfo Center. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-928914-97-6. Retrieved 10 June 2018. Search this book on
- ↑ Black III, Samuel P "Pat" (2018). The Biodiesel Solution: How Biodiesel is Making a Difference for Our Future. Charleston, SC: Advantage. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-59932-849-2. Search this book on
- ↑ Black III, Samuel Pat (2018). The Biodiesel Solution (1st ed.). Charleston, South Carolina: Advantage Media Group. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-59932-849-2. Search this book on
- ↑ "IEA Bioenergy Annual Report" (PDF). Swedish National Board for Industrial and Technical Development. B 1995:2 (1 600 ex): 50. 1994. ISSN 1102-2566. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ↑ Johnson, Ted (November 28, 1993). "Gardena to Run Test Bus With Diesel, Soybean Mix : Environment: City plans to cut emissions by using the fuel in one vehicle. If the tryout works, officials say they may use the blend for the rest of the fleet". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Looking Back: Kenlon Johannes". Missouri Soybean Farmer. 20 (5): 6–7. October 2016.
- ↑ Van Gerpen, John H.; Peterson, Charles L.; Goering, Carroll E. (11–14 February 2007). "Biodiesel: An Alternative for Compression Ignition Engines" (PDF). American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 31: 1–22. Retrieved 6 July 2018.CS1 maint: Date format (link)
- ↑ Batsell, Jake (November 17, 1996). "Grease is the Word: New Smell of Diesel Fumes Has a Hint of French Fries" (November 17, 1996). Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ↑ Blanco, Sebastian (December 7, 2006). "Wal-Mart Might Start Using Biodiesel in America's Largest Private Truck Fleet" (December 7, 2006). Auto Blog. Auto Blog. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ↑ "2017 NBB Opening Video". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ↑ "Archived Copy". Archived from the original on 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2018-11-15.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "EPA Conducts Hearing About Proposed RFS volume requierments" (PDF). Straight Rows. 21 (1): 1, 7. Fall 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Drovers". www.drovers.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ↑ "Biodiesel Magazine". www.biodieselmagazine.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ↑ "Entertainers, Sailors Among the Winners of 'Eye on Biodiesel Award'" (Business & Industry). Normans Media Ltd. The Free Library by Farlex. February 4, 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ↑ "Tireless Canola Advocate Earns Recognition". U.S. Canola Digest. 8 (1): 21. February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ↑ "Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame Members 2017". Nebraska Softball. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
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