If you are passionate about farming, ready to connect with agricultural industry leaders and grow your leadership skills, look no further than the Young Leader Program. Program sponsors American Soybean Association and Corteva are seeking farmers to apply for the 2025 2026 ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program.
Phase I of the 2025-26 Young Leader program will take place Dec. 1-4 at Corteva’s Global Business Center in Johnston, Iowa. It continues Feb. 24-Feb. 27, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with the annual Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show.
The Young Leader program has helped identify and train soybean farmers to be leaders in the industry for more than 40 years. As the first state affiliate of ASA, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) has developed dozens of leaders through the program and continues recruiting growers to represent Minnesota soybean farmers for the next generation.
“The support MSGA shows for the Corteva Young Leader program is beyond amazing,” said Brownton farmer Ryan Mackenthun, MSGA vice president and 2019-2020 Young Leader graduate.
After completing the program, participants have the opportunity to become full voting at-large MSGA directors for three years. Soybean growers – both individuals and couples – are encouraged to apply for the program, which focuses on leadership and communication, agriculture trends and information and the development of a strong and connected network. Growers of any age are encouraged to apply: The program, which is supported by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the soy checkoff, is designed for those young in their leadership careers.
“The Corteva Young Leader Program was a great experience,” Mackenthun said. “It gave me a very in-depth look at what being an active leader in various soybean associations looked like. Thanks to this program, I have peers in the agricultural community from across the U.S. and Canada that I chat with often to share farming practices.”
Soybean growers, both individuals and couples, are eligible to apply for the program, which focuses on leadership and communication, agriculture trends and information, and the development of a strong and connected network. The program is designed for growers who are young in leadership, not age. Interested spouses/partners are encouraged to attend and will be active participants in all aspects of the program, even if not employed full time on the farm.
ASA and Corteva will work with ASA’s 26 state affiliates and the Grain Farmers of Ontario to identify the top producers to represent their states as part of this program. The deadline to apply is Sept. 1. Learn more about the program and how to apply here.
About the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
MSGA is a nonpartisan, farmer-led advocacy organization established in 1962. The organization represents the interests of Minnesota’s nearly 26,000 soybean farmers. MSGA’s goal is to ensure profitable soybean farming by influencing favorable farm legislation, monitoring government policies and supporting research and market development activities. Click here to join MSGA.