2024 ASA Conservation Legacy Awards
The ASA Conservation Legacy Award Program honors four farm families for stewardship achievements.
Innovation is everything in agriculture. And when innovation can help farmers carry on their legacies in land and water sustainability, they become true pioneers, trendsetters and industry leaders. This year, we honor four growers with a passionate agricultural heritage.
Congratulations to these four outstanding soybean farmers, each a regional winner of the American Soybean Association (ASA) 2024 Conservation Legacy Award: Midwest–Chris Von Holten, Illinois; Northeast–Donald Morse, Michigan; Upper Midwest–Jacob Kaderly, Wisconsin; South–Brad and Joyce Doyle, Arkansas.
The conservation commitment and sponsorship support from ASA, United Soybean Board (USB), BASF, Bayer, Valent, Nutrien, Farm Journal and Top Producer make this distinguished award program possible.
The overall winner will be announced at Commodity Classic on March 1, 2024.
Regional Winners of the 2024 ASA Conservation Legacy Awards Announced
Donald Morse
Birch Run, Michigan
Regional Winner: Northeast
Almost 50 years ago, Michigan farmer Don Morse put conservation tillage to the test on his 3,100 acres, years before the federal government began offering subsidies to farmers as an incentive to conserve the soil. And he’s never looked back.
Chris Von Holten
Walnut, Illinois
Regional Winner: Midwest
In the early 1980s, teenager Chris Von Holten, watched as heavy rains eroded the soil away on his family’s Illinois farm. Because of that event, Von Holten’s farming management focuses on soil preservation.
Brad Doyle
Weiner, Arkansas
Regional Winner: South
The conservation story of Brad Doyle’s Arkansas farm, which began with water management and reservoir construction, is far from its final chapter. With sustainability efforts evident throughout the farm, they want their acts to prosper the next generation.
Jacob Kaderly
Monticello, Wisconsin
Regional Winner: Upper Midwest
Jacob Kaderly’s passion for land stewardship can be credited to his father’s management practices on the family farm and his service on the Wisconsin State Conservation Board during the 1970s.
