Ed Anderson Named Recipient of the 2024 Tom Oswald Legacy Award

March 7, 2024 | Brock Johnston

Ankeny, Iowa — Maximizing profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers begins in the field. For one dedicated soybean researcher, his career achievements are continuing to turn opportunity into reality and have reached far beyond his home state of Iowa.

Ed Anderson, PhD, was presented the Tom Oswald Legacy Award for his significant contributions in advancing soybean research and fostering collaboration in the research community to benefit farmers. The award, given by the United Soybean Board (USB), was recognized at the 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas.

“To me, it’s not about me,” said Ed Anderson, PhD, executive director of the North Central Soybean Research Program and former senior director of research at the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). “To be recognized for this it says that what I’ve tried to provide leadership on—but thanks to the great people that are willing to work together and do what we’ve accomplished—to get a little recognition us not for my recognition, but for all these great people who are willing to come together and work on things that are bigger and better than just themselves.”

Anderson has been a longtime leader in promoting soybean research. His efforts to improve soybean yields, enhance sustainable crop production, and mitigate stressors like disease, insects, weeds and more have greatly contributed to the profitability, productivity and sustainability of U.S. soybean farmers.

For the past decade, Anderson has served on the Iowa Soybean Association and North Central Soybean Research Program in addition to research consulting for the Kansas Soybean Commission. In these roles, he has provided leadership to numerous farmer-led, state soybean organizations to drive checkoff-funded research projects at more than 13 major land-grant universities, including Iowa State University.

“Ed is a humble leader,” said Suzanne Shirbroun, ISA president and soybean farmer from Farmersburg. “He is masterful in bringing people together to advance the soybean industry. It’s an honor to serve on a board where I have witnessed his passion to drive soybean research forward and dream about how the advancements would be deployed on my farm, as well as farms across the country, to improve productivity and profitability – and ultimately sustainability.”

The recognition holds special significance for Anderson. The award was established in honor of the late Tom Oswald, a Cleghorn, Iowa, farmers who served as ISA president and as a USB director for several years. He was a personal friend to Anderson.

“To me, Tom Oswald was intelligent, insightful and proactive. He always challenged us … not only did it push me to be better, but I really think he did help us all to be better-er,” added Anderson.

To learn more about Oswald and the Tom Oswald Legacy Award, visit iasoybeans.com.

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Funded by the soybean checkoff

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The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 40,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.

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