August 19, 2026

The Kansas Soybean Association and Commission have opened applications for the Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA). The three-phase program immerses ag professionals in the soybean industry, taking a close look at how organizations across the value chain interact and impact farmers.

ELA exposes participants to the organizations that serve farmers, the suppliers they work with, and the processors and end users who depend on their beans. At each phase, participants deepen their understanding of where crops go and how they’re promoted, building leadership and advocacy skills along the way.

“To start, I didn’t know much about Kansas Soybean; I couldn’t have explained the difference between the Association and Commission,” says Jason Unruh, Class 4 Emerging Leader. “Going through ELA gave me leadership training that was helpful back on my farm. It gave me a foundational knowledge of the Kansas soybean industry – and really the Kansas ag industry – and built my network across the state.”

Participants start by learning how their checkoff and association work independently and together to build profit for farmers through investment and advocacy. In the second phase, they tour industry partners in Kansas to understand the state’s soybean supply chain. Stops are tailored to participants’ interests. This year’s class saw crush plants, a freight facility, and even the Frito Lay plant in Topeka to see how soybeans make their way from field to finished product.

Phase three takes participants to a United Soybean Board meeting to see the national and global impact of U.S. Soy. In addition to the ag supply chain beyond Kansas, they witness how the national soybean checkoff and association work on their behalf, and how other organizations such as Clean Fuels Alliance America and the U.S. Soybean Export Council advocate for stronger markets.

“After Emerging Leaders, I got the passion to talk to other people and to advocate,” says Jeremy Olson, Class 2. “I think that’s going to be big in the years to come with what we’re facing in agriculture: the ability to communicate with not only ourselves but also the non-ag population.”

Ultimately, participants value getting off their farm to connect with others in the industry. Sam Heinen, a participant in the most recent Emerging Leaders class, says the opportunity to learn from other farmers changed the way he thinks.

The Emerging Leaders Academy is an opportunity not only to ask questions about the soybean checkoff and association, but to see the answers firsthand. Applications are due Nov. 1 and are open to anyone involved in agriculture and interested in soybeans. Visit kssoy.org/ela to learn more.