Each year, Growth Energy recognizes the leading congressional staffers who have gone above and beyond to assist and actively engage with the Growth Energy team and our members on a variety of issues that impact the biofuels industry. Growth Energy proudly announced this year’s winners of the Outstanding Congressional Staff awards at the 2025 Growth Energy Biofuels Summit (GEBS) this September.
“Every single one of these recipients have dedicated their own time to a number of legislative issues that impact the biofuels industry,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “They are among the best and the brightest on Capitol Hill when it comes to biofuels, and we are proud to recognize all their hard work this past year.”
Learn more about this year’s winners below.
Winner – Trenton Hoekstra, Legislative Assistant to Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
Trenton Hoekstra is a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), handling the senator’s agriculture, nutrition, trade, and biofuels portfolio. In his current role, he is the senator’s first call when it comes to biofuel policy, and therefore one of the most influential staffers in the Seante on our issues. Trenton grew up on his family’s corn, soybean, and hog farm in northwest Iowa, and is a graduate of the University of South Dakota.
Winner – Thomas Liepold, Professional Staff Member for Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
Thomas Liepold is a Professional Staff member for Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry where he works on energy and rural development issues. He began working for Senator Klobuchar in 2016 and has worked on a range of issues from trade, crop insurance, livestock and biofuels. Thomas grew up on his family’s farm in Heron Lake, Minnesota. Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture marketing and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota.
Winner – Abby Goins, Legislative Assistant to Representative Adrian Smith (R-Neb.)
Abby Goins is a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Adrian Smith (Neb.-03), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade. Abby advises Congressman Smith on trade, agriculture, and energy policy. Prior to this role, she spent three years in Congressman Tracey Mann’s (Kan.-01) office. Abby is from Oswego, Kansas and is a graduate of Kansas State University, where she studied Agricultural Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership.
Winner – Yusuf Nekzad, Legislative Director for Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.)
Yusuf Nekzad serves as Legislative Director for Rep. Nikki Budzinski (Ill.-13). Congresswoman Budzinski is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Co-Chair of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, and Vice Chair for Policy of the New Democrat Coalition. A known expert on the Hill for energy policy, Yusuf previously served as Legislative Affairs Coordinator for the Department of Energy’s Office of Infrastructure and as a Senior Policy Advisor to former Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois.
Congratulations to all of our Outstanding Congressional Staff award winners! Thank you for all your hard work, leadership, and partnership over the years.