The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has announced its ILSoyAdvisor award winners. The two awards are one way that ISA recognizes and shows its appreciation of Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) across the state. 

 “ISA is proud to recognize CCAs that strive to help farmers be their very best,” says Stephanie Porter, ISA Outreach Agronomist and CCA. “We also realize that many of these individuals usually don’t get the recognition that they deserve, so this is our way of saying thank you for all that you do for them and Illinois agriculture.” 

Jason Carr, 2024 ILSoyAdvisor CCA Soybean Master Adviser Award Winner

Jason Carr was awarded the 2024 Soybean Master Adviser award, created to recognize one outstanding CCA each year for their passion for soybean management. 

As Soybean Technical Product Manager with Bayer Crop Science, Carr evaluates new soybean germplasm and assists independent licensees with identifying varieties that meet the individual needs of customers. As a previous Technology Development Representative, he led agronomic research projects with corn and soybeans which focused on creating tailored solutions for growers. In that role, Carr was responsible for generating data across multiple seasons to help farmers understand the risks and benefits of planting soybeans earlier than historically accepted.  

 Carr spent a decade in soybean breeding with Monsanto and led a team developing numerous commercially successful varieties in RM groups two and three. He holds a master’s degree in molecular genetics and a bachelor’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences from the University of Illinois. He is also an alumnus of the Illinois Soybean Association Soy Envoy program. Carr and his wife, Jill, reside near El Paso, Illinois and have eight children.   

 Terry Wyciskalla was awarded the Dave Rahe Excellence in Soils Consulting award, an accolade named in honor of Dave Rahe, a former ILSoyAdvisor CCA Soy Envoy who passed away suddenly in April 2020. During his year as an Envoy, Rahe authored blogs for ILSoyAdvisor covering topics such as soil compaction, micronutrient management, cover crops, and more. In addition to writing for ILSoyAdvisor, he wrote his own blog, Observations in Agriculture. ISA is grateful to honor Rahe’s legacy in this way. 

Terry Wyciskalla, 2024 Dave Rahe Excellence in Soils Consulting Award Winner

 Wyciskalla is the owner-operator of Wyciskalla Consulting, LLC., specializing in soil sampling, nutrient management, precision ag management, and soil management. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) in soil fertility under Edward Varsa, Ph.D.  

 Wyciskalla started his first soil sampling program part-time in 1994, a program that has grown enormously since then. In 1995, he returned to SIUC and worked as a soil fertility researcher for ten years and then transitioned into a teaching role for the next six years, covering a broad spectrum of soils, crops, and agriculture related courses. In the summer of 2011 Wyciskalla left SIUC and began devoting all his time to crop consulting as his business continued to grow. In 2001, he earned his certifications as a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and a Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg). He later added the 4R Nutrient Stewardship certification (4R NMS), and was selected as the 2019 Illinois Farm Bureau CCA of the Year. Today, Wyciskalla’s business serves a 15-county region with approximately 150 clients and 100,000 acres. He and his wife, Renee, reside in Nashville, Illinois and have three children.   

 Both winners were recognized at ISA’s Impact Awards banquet on November 28, 2023 and will be honored at the 2024 Soybean Summit on February 1st at the iHotel in Champaign.