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The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) is on a mission to uplift the next generation of farmer leaders. For many aspiring directors, that journey starts by applying for the 2024-25 ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program.

As the first state affiliate of the American Soybean Association (ASA), MSGA is searching for growers to represent Minnesota soybean farmers and apply for the Young Leader program, which has helped identify and train soybean farmers to be leaders in the industry for more than 40 years. MSGA’s current roster of directors is packed with ASA Young Leaders alumni. Current Young Leaders Parker Revier and Gabrielle Carmichael completed the program earlier in 2024 and are now at-large directors with MSGA.

“The support MSGA shows for the Corteva Young Leadership Program is beyond amazing,” said Ryan Mackenthun, MSGA vice president and 2019-2020 Young Leader graduate. “With the completion of the program, the participants have the chance to be full voting at-large MSGA directors for three years, working side by side with our board to continue to expand their involvement in the soybean family.”

Phase I of the 2024-2025 Young Leader program will take place Dec. 2-5 at Corteva’s Global Business Center in Johnston, Iowa. It continues Feb. 28-March 4, 2025, in Denver in conjunction with the annual Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show.

“The Corteva Young Leader program was a great experience. It gave me a very in-depth look at what being an active leader in various soybean associations looked like,” Mackenthun said. “One unexpected thing I took away from the program was the many connections and friends I came away with. Thanks to this program, I now have peers in the agricultural community from across the U.S. and Canada that I chat with often to share farming practices.”

Applications are now open through Sept. 20. 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.