By Jordan Bright, ASA Director of Social & Digital Media
ASA held its annual Awards Celebration in San Antonio, Texas, at Commodity Classic. This celebration of the soybean industry acknowledges excellence in volunteer achievement and inspirational leadership. The awards recognize state association volunteerism, top leadership achievements of five years or more, and significant, long-lasting contributions to the soybean industry over a lifetime. The nomination period is typically open from June through the end of October and then a judging committee makes final selections.
Dave Walton (IA), Outstanding State Volunteer
ASA honored Iowa farmer Dave Walton with its Outstanding State Volunteer Award. This award recognizes the dedication and exemplary contributions of volunteers with at least three years of volunteer service in any area
of their state association’s operation.
For over a decade, Dave has dedicated his time and leadership to advancing soybean farmers’ interests, serving in key roles on the Iowa Soybean Association board, the ASA Executive Committee, the Iowa Biodiesel Board, and the Clean Fuels Alliance America board.
He has strengthened the soybean industry by building connections with policymakers, industry leaders, and fellow soybean farmers. Dave consistently goes above and beyond in advocacy, playing a key role in shaping his state’s biodiesel priorities.
During his acceptance speech, Dave acknowledged that it was a team effort with his wife and his eldest son, allowing him to take the time to do volunteer work over the years. He also thanked the directors he has served with who challenged him, making him a better leader and person.
Dave currently serves as the vice president of ASA, positioning him to serve as president in 2027. “I have a couple years left at the national level, and I have a lot more things to accomplish here in the next few years, so I got to get going,” he concluded. “It’s going to go fast, but we have a lot of work to do and I have a good team around me, both at the director’s level and the staff level, so we’re going to get some things done in the next two years. I’m looking forward to it.”
Monte Peterson (ND), Distinguished Leadership Award
The ASA Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes a soybean grower or association staff leader who has shown a high level of dedication and successfully led others to meet goals and achieve successes to benefit
soybean farmers. ASA recognized North Dakota farmer Monte Peterson with its Distinguished Leadership Award.
Monte has been an advocate for soybean farmers since 2006, when he joined the North Dakota Soybean Council board. He also served on the American Soybean Association board from 2014 until 2023.
During his time with ASA, Monte chaired the Trade Policy & International Affairs Committee. He was known for breaking down complicated topics, such as the China trade dispute, and guiding efforts to eliminate trade barriers and expand markets.
Monte served on the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) board from 2017 to 2023, including terms as vice chair, chair, and past chair. As chair of the USSEC board, he led them through the COVID-19 pandemic, participating in hundreds of virtual meetings, continuing to strengthen key trade relationships, and reinforcing that U.S. soy is a reliable, high-quality product.
Through the ASA Corteva Young Leader Program, Monte spent time with new farmer leaders, encouraging them to take on committee work and guiding them through how national policy connects back to their farms.
As Monte accepted his award, he spoke of the opportunities he has had to work alongside the strong leadership and dedicated board members of ASA, USSEC, and North Dakota Soybean Growers Association whose guidance and commitment continue to elevate the soybean industry.
“Any leadership that I’ve shown has been the result of standing shoulder to shoulder with individuals who bring insight, who bring energy and integrity to the work that we do. If I’ve managed to look like a leader at all, it’s only because I’ve been surrounded by people who lift me up, that keep me on track, and occasionally remind me where I’m supposed to be next. Thank you for this recognition and for your confidence in me,” he said.
Richard Wilkins (DE), Pinnacle Award, ASA’s Highest Honor
ASA recognized the late Richard Wilkins, of Greenwood, Delaware, with its top honor, the Pinnacle Award. This is an industrywide recognition of a lifetime of work that demonstrates the highest level of contribution and leadership within the soybean family and industry.
During his 53 years of service, Richard consistently demonstrated innovative leadership that strengthened
the sustainability and unity of the soybean industry. He held many roles as a soybean farmer advocate, including being a member of the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association, former ASA president, and former state executive director of the Farm Service Agency for Delaware.
Richard began farming in 1972 with only three acres of soybeans on rented ground, expanding to 65 acres by the time he graduated from high school in 1976. His early experiences instilled a lifelong respect for hard work, innovation, and the importance of producer-led leadership – principles that guided his contributions at every level of the soybean family.
At the state level, Richard served on the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, representing farmers amid the increasing complexity of nutrient management mandates. In this capacity, he promoted science-based, practical solutions that helped producers comply with environmental regulations without sacrificing yield or economic viability.
In 2015, Richard was elected ASA president and led the organization through major national policy debates, most notably during the proposed Vermont GMO labeling law crisis. Under his leadership, ASA mobilized farmers and stakeholders to educate policymakers, resulting in a uniform national food labeling standard that avoided confusion, protected consumers, and preserved market stability.
During the Awards Celebration, Richard’s wife, Donna, and his nephew, Chris, accepted the award on his behalf. Donna spoke of Richard’s passion in life, which was to continue educating the public, mentoring the next generation, and protecting the future of ag. She also read a letter Richard wrote to the ASA board in 2010 when he decided to run for ASA vice president. Richard wrote, “It is incumbent upon us as farmer leaders to advocate for policies that achieve societal wishes for a clean and safe food supply, but let’s also allow the American agribusiness industry to grow and prosper… I am driven by a passion to serve the industry that I have been a part of my entire life.”
Richard will be remembered for his role in ensuring fair and equitable representation for smaller soybean-producing states within the American Soybean Association. His enduring impact will be measured not only by the policies he helped shape and the markets he expanded, but also by the leaders he mentored.
The post Farmers Recognized at ASA’s Annual Awards Celebration appeared first on American Soybean Association.
