2020 Legacy of Leadership Award

January 27, 2020

A Legacy Continues

Dean Coleman of Humboldt was honored with the Iowa Soybean Association's (ISA) 2020 Legacy of Leadership Award for his many contributions to the soybean industry. Coleman, who passed away in the fall of 2019 from injuries sustained in a farm-related accident, was a dedicated soybean leader who served his peers with distinction at the local, state and national level.

The award, sponsored by Stine Seed, was accepted by his wife Carol, sons Nick and Mike and sister Christine Reyerson.

"I’ve worked alongside many outstanding farmer leaders during my many years at ISA," says ISA CEO Kirk Leeds, “These are people who care about their families, their farms and their communities. Dean was one of those outstanding individuals who I was privileged to know and honored to call a friend.”

Coleman served as a director on the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) board including the offices of president, vice president, treasurer and at-large. He also chaired the ISA Supply and Demand, Public Affairs and Information & Education committees and traveled the state, country and world promoting U.S. soy. At the time of his passing, he was serving on the American Soybean Association’s Board of Directors.

A third-generation farmer, Coleman grew soybeans and corn with his wife, Carol, and son Mike. As a family, they hosted several foreign buyer groups in addition to area school children to plant and harvest soybeans and corn. He held numerous ag leadership positions at the county level with Farm Bureau, county extension council and fair board and was a board member for a biodiesel plant start up.  

 “I spent many years working with Dean on the issues of the day,” Leeds says. “I witnessed how he approached every day and every challenge with a calmness grounded in his faith. Dean was a great person, husband, father and grandfather and outstanding farmer leader who made everyone around him a better person."

Coleman is remembered for many things, among those is his dedication to the soybean industry and his legacy of leadership.

ISA's 2020 Leadership Awards were given in seven categories on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, during ISA’s Annual Awards Banquet, sponsored by West Bank.

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