Every soybean farmer knows that what you put in the ground in the spring determines what you harvest in the fall. That principle does not just apply to your fields. It applies to people, too. The investment you make in the next generation of leaders today will shape the future of Illinois agriculture for decades to come.

This month’s Illinois Field & Bean looks to the future, highlighting the next generation of farmers, new leadership and the transitions that keep the industry strong. That topic is central to what we do at ISA. We are working for the farmers in the field today while we invest in the ones who will be there tomorrow, and we are genuinely excited about what this new crop of developing leaders are bringing to the table.

Two programs are at the heart of that work: the Illinois Soybean Association’s LEAD and 20 Under 40 programs.

The LEAD Program stands for Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development. It’s built around a simple idea: strong industries need strong leaders, and leaders need to be developed intentionally. LEAD does that through three distinct tracks that meet people where they are in their careers.

The Next Generation track is designed for FFA members, college students and those new to the industry. It gives them an early look at the soybean supply chain, from the field to the end user, and opens doors to career opportunities they may not have considered. The Navigators track takes a deeper dive, connecting graduates and early-career farmers with mentors and hands-on leadership experiences over three years. The Ambassadors track draws on seasoned advocates and post-career professionals who bring decades of knowledge and are willing to share it. Each track feeds into the next. The goal is to not just hold a seminar but build a pipeline. Like a well-managed crop rotation, it is a long-term system designed for sustained yield.

This year’s LEAD cohort includes farmers, agribusiness professionals and researchers from across the state. Sixth-generation family farmers and first-generation growers are sitting in the same room, learning from each other. That kind of exchange is exactly what Illinois agriculture needs more of.

Our 20 Under 40 program works alongside LEAD to recognize young farmers and ag professionals who are already making their mark. These are men and women raising soybeans all across Illinois. They are managing their farms, building their businesses and serving their communities, all before they turn 40. We have honored more than 80 of these young leaders over the past four years, and every single class reminds us that the future of this industry is in very good hands. Nominations for the 2026 class are open through May 31. Every farming community has someone who deserves this recognition. We hope you will take a few minutes to submit a worthy leader through www.ilsoy.org.

We are also working to connect with young growers in new ways, showing up in digital spaces, updating how we communicate and making our programs easier to find and access. The farmers coming up today are gathering information differently than farmers were even five or ten years ago, and we want to be part of those conversations early and often.

Illinois agriculture has long relied on the transfer of knowledge across generations, a process that requires deliberate effort. Much like each planting season, it calls for preparation, patience and confidence in outcomes not yet visible. The Illinois Soybean Association remains committed to this work. Through programs like LEAD and 20 Under 40, we are investing in future leaders—and those efforts are already beginning to take root.