Get an inside look at Iowa's soybean industry

May 28, 2026 | Kriss Nelson

From biodiesel plants to soybean exports and cutting-edge research, the Iowa Soybean Association is giving farmers a behind-the-scenes look at the people, places and partnerships driving today’s soybean industry through its 2026 Experience Class.

Sign Me Up For Experience Class

Farmers interested in participating can learn more and register through the ISA Experience Class event page. Registration is due by June 26, and farmers are encouraged to sign up early as space may be limited.

Full industry view

The three-day program, scheduled for July 28-30, will take participants across central and western Iowa for tours and discussions focused on advocacy, transportation, research, conservation, livestock health, biodiesel and seed genetics.

Stops along the tour include Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, conservation sites featuring wetlands and bioreactors, the Port of Blencoe and Western Iowa Energy.

Participants will hear from ISA Research Agronomy Lead Alex Schaffer about ongoing research trials and conservation work taking place across Iowa. Topics will include nitrogen management, cover crops, conservation practices and on-farm research designed to help farmers improve profitability while protecting water quality and soil health.

At the Iowa State University Diagnostic Laboratory, participants will explore the connection between animal agriculture and the soybean industry.

Emma McGathy, ISA producer services coordinator, says ISA has supported the diagnostic lab through checkoff investments because of the important role livestock production plays in soybean demand. The tour will highlight the facility’s animal health and diagnostic work.

The class will also stop at the Port of Blencoe, where farmers will hear more about soybean transportation and river logistics. As part of its efforts to expand transportation opportunities and strengthen the basis price for farmers, ISA invested soybean checkoff dollars into the engineering and design of the facility. Located along the Missouri River near Blencoe, the port serves as the northernmost barge facility on the river, helping western Iowa farmers move millions of bushels of soybeans and grain to global markets while also bringing in fertilizer shipments.

Another stop on the tour includes Western Iowa Energy. Participants will get a closer look at biodiesel production and how soybeans are used in renewable fuel markets. The tour will walk participants through the biodiesel production process and highlight the role biofuels play in supporting soybean demand.

“The ISA Experience Class is an engaging, three-day immersive tour that showcases every side of the soybean industry,” says McGathy. “Participants gain firsthand insight from industry experts across the supply chain, building a deeper understanding of how Iowa’s soybean system works.”

Beyond the bus

One of the biggest benefits of the Experience Class is helping farmers better understand the moving parts of the soybean industry, from research and transportation to processing, livestock and biofuels.

But class also gives participants an opportunity to network with farmers from across the state.

“The tours and networking will equip participants with practical ideas to enhance their own operations while also fostering meaningful connections and lasting friendships with fellow class members,” she says. “It really helps farmers see the bigger picture of the soybean industry and how their farm connects to it.”

Building connections

Carson Brincks knew he’d see different parts of the industry when he participated in the 2025 Experience Class. But he couldn’t have known the tour would result in new connections in the industry.

“I met a farmer during the class and later ran into him while buying seed,” says Brincks, who farms near Ossian. “He invited me out to his farm to show me some practices he’d recently implemented. Since then, we’ve shared ideas that benefit us both.”

Seeing the soybean industry beyond his own farm gate helped him better understand how different parts of agriculture connect.

“I think seeing the full scale of the soybean industry and connecting with other farmers to share ideas makes a big difference in your own operation and helps guide better management decisions,” Brincks says.

Farmers interested in learning more about the 2026 ISA Experience Class can contact McGathy at emcgathy@iasoybeans.com.

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