Mike Pearson was born and raised in South Central Iowa, where he grew to love agriculture on his family’s hog and cattle farm. After graduating from Simpson College, Mike moved to Grinnell, Iowa where he had the chance to build his own cow herd in addition to working as an agricultural lender.

Over the next 10 years, Mike left the world of finance and entered the world of media. He’s previously hosted “Market to Market” on Public Television, the Ag News Daily podcast, and currently, viewers can find him behind the anchor desk on “This Week in Agribusiness” on RFD-TV.

Scott Metzger, a farmer from Williamsport, Ohio, has served on the American Soybean Association Board of Directors since December 2017. He farms 1,400 acres of soybeans, along with corn and wheat, on a multi-generational family farm alongside his cousins.

A sixth-generation farmer, Scott joined the Ohio Soybean Association in 2011 and has served in several leadership roles, including treasurer, vice president, first vice president, and president of the Ohio Soybean Association. He has completed the ASA/Corteva Young Leader Program, Syngenta’s Leadership at Its Best program, and the Ohio Farm Bureau AgriPOWER leadership program.

Scott is a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau and the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy with a minor in agribusiness from Ohio State University.

Richard Fordyce serves as USDA’s Under Secretary for the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area. The FPAC Mission Area encompasses key USDA agencies, including the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and FPAC Business Center- all essential to the delivery of conservation, farm loans, crop insurance, disaster assistance, and other key programs for farmers around the country.

Richard is a fourth-generation farmer from Bethany, Missouri, and has devoted his career to advancing American agriculture and putting Farmers First. He and his wife, Renee, have two children and grow soybeans, corn and beef cattle on the family farm.

Carrie Vollmer-Sanders serves as Field to Market's President. Carrie is a 6th generation farmer, passionate about collaborating with forward-thinking farmers, convening diverse thought-leaders, and addressing environmental challenges while maintaining focus on business objectives. She received the White House Champion of Change Award in 2014 for her leadership in developing the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program while at The Nature Conservancy. She has an MBA from Purdue University and a master’s degree in Ag Economics from Michigan State University.

Carrie currently serves on the Edon Farmers Co-op, Soil and Water Conservation Society, and Cameron Health boards and U.S. EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee. She previously served on the US EPA Science Advisory Board and worked for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, The Nature Conservancy, and Michigan Farm Bureau. Carrie and her husband have two active sons and own Grains and Greens, Inc., a corn, soybeans, and wheat farm in Indiana and Ohio with a focus on all three elements of the sustainability stool (people, planet, and profit).

Jeremy Adamson serves as Director of Global Agriculture Policy at PepsiCo, where he leads strategy and engagement to advance regenerative agriculture, strengthen food system resilience, and scale public-private partnerships that support farmers globally. He connects PepsiCo’s sustainability and business priorities with partners and policymakers to help deliver the company’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) ambitions.

Before joining PepsiCo, Jeremy was a Presidential Appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, serving as Chief of Staff for Research, Education, and Economics and as Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Change at the Foreign Agricultural Service. He led initiatives to integrate climate-smart agriculture into U.S. and global programs, expand international cooperation, and advance USDA’s science, research, and workforce development strategy.

A native of Merrillville, Indiana, Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture. He remains active in mentoring future agricultural leaders through MANRRS and Agriculture Future of America and resides in Washington, D.C.

Paul is the Director of Regen Ag – Origination for ADM where he works with ADM’s origination and sales team to design, execute, and manage ADM’s North American regenerative ag programs. Prior to Paul’s current role he held various commercial management roles within ADM focusing on managing ADM’s grain buying and ingredient sales at various processing facilities. Paul grew up in west central Illinois on a family farm and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Finance degree in 2010.

Brent owns and operates Rendel Farms with two generations of his family. They grow soybeans, winter wheat, and corn on 4,500 acres in northeast Oklahoma.

Brent is a fourth-year director with USB and sits on the Value Action Team in the Innovation & Technology Priority Area. Brent also serves on the Communication and Education Committee.

He is currently chair of the Oklahoma Soybean Board and a member of the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission.

Jacob Kibbons brings nearly 25 years of experience spanning geology, environmental remediation, agronomy, soil science, crop production, and agricultural sales. A Hanover College graduate with a degree in Geology, he transitioned into production agriculture in 2008 and has since worked across agronomy, seed, fertility, precision agriculture, specialty grain, and agricultural sales.

Today, Jacob’s focus through FieldLogic is on restoring the fundamental systems agriculture depends on. FieldLogic works to repair soil function, helping restore the biological, chemical, and physical processes that drive nutrient cycling, plant health, and resilience. Their company is also focused on driving cleaner water through agricultural systems.

Jacob and FieldLogic believe the next evolution of agriculture must go beyond simply sustaining what we have. “As stewards of the land, we have a responsibility to repair the damage our industry has created, restore soil function, protect our water, and leave the land better than we found it.”

Ruth McCabe is an agronomist and conservation professional whose career has focused on increasing conservation adoption across the agricultural landscape. A Certified Professional Agronomist and Iowa CCA, Ruth holds an M.S. in Crop Production and Physiology from Iowa State University and has more than fifteen years of experience in technical, organic, research, and conservation agronomy. She was the 2022 Nuffield International Farming Scholar for Iowa and the United States, studying conservation farming adoption in major grain-producing countries around the world, and currently serves on the Nuffield USA board of directors. Her areas of expertise include conservation practice integration, cover cropping, and edge-of-field conservation.

Laurie and her husband, Jim, are fifth-generation farmers in southeastern Michigan, where they grow corn and soybeans using a variety of conservation practices to support sustainability. Their son, Jake, is involved in the operation and oversees technology and data management. Laurie and Jim also have two other married children and nine grandchildren.

A retired agriscience teacher and FFA advisor, Laurie continues to teach part-time. She served on the Michigan Soybean Committee for nine years and is now in her sixth year on the United Soybean Board. She serves on the Communication and Education Committee and leads the Sustainable Production Work Group for the Value Alignment Team.

Jaia Fischer has served as the Acting State Conservationist for USDA-NRCS, Iowa, since May 1, 2026. She provides agency and natural resources leadership and support to Iowa NRCS including implementing NRCS’s priorities and providing conservation technical assistance and financial assistance on private lands.

Prior to her acting role, she served as the Assistant State Conservationist for Management and Strategy since January 2017. In that role, she oversaw business operations for Iowa NRCS. Jaia implemented streamlined processes resulting in more effective and efficient service for our producers. She also served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Deputy Chief for Management and Strategy.

Jaia began her career with NRCS in June 2002, after graduating from Iowa State University with an Agronomy Degree. Throughout her first ten years with the Agency, she served in the field in various Soil Conservationist positions throughout Iowa and as a District Conservationist in the NW part of the state.

She then transitioned to the Iowa State Office, where she served as a Management Analyst on the Operations staff. She quickly became involved in many national projects related to NRCS business tools.  Jaia also played a major role in Iowa and nationally as the Agency went through administrative changes.

Jaia grew up on a family farm in central Iowa, where she currently resides. As a native Iowan, she is proud to represent Iowa NRCS and serve the people of Iowa.

Clayton Light works as the Director of Conservation and Farm Innovation for Missouri Soybeans. Clayton keeps up to date on the latest conservation topics impacting soybean farmers and works with other organizations to ensure farmers benefit from conservation efforts. He also manages the Farm for Soy Innovation to ensure that MSA and MSMC have a place for research and a place to demonstrate the latest land management practices and new technology that can increase the bottom line for soybean farmers.   

Clayton is a graduate of Missouri State University with a degree in wildlife management and conservation and a minor in agronomy. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Freeburg, Missouri, with their two sons, Calvin and Cade. Clayton grew up enjoying the outdoors and helping on his grandpa’s cattle operations. He previously worked as a wildlife management biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. In his free time, Clayton enjoys spending time with family and friends and being outdoors. 

Jeff Lucas, a native of Fort Madison, Iowa, is a proud alumnus of Iowa State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. Jeff has a heart for service and a talent for collaboration. Throughout his career, Jeff has embraced diverse experiences across the United States, from the high desert landscapes of Idaho to the vibrant music scene of Nashville, Tennessee. His professional journey includes managing a non-profit organization dedicated to raising beef cattle for food banks and pantries and serving as the Marketing Director at YSS, a substance abuse treatment center.

Most recently, he excelled as the Chief Operations Officer for a leading livestock trailer manufacturer. Jeff’s passions include bass fishing, travel, family time, and rodeo. Alongside his wife, Brooke, Jeff enjoys life with their young daughter, Emmy Lu, and their Australian Shepherd, Khloe. Now, he is excited to embark on a new chapter with IAWA.

Carson Fort joined the American Soybean Association (ASA) in November 2023. As the Director of Government Affairs, he leads policy efforts related to conservation, precision agriculture, labor, soy foods, fertilizer, and research. Carson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana, and a Master of Public Administration from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining ASA, he served as a Program Manager at The Ohio State University and previously worked as a Legislative Issue Manager at Stateside Associates.