Do you know an experienced Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) with a passion for soybean management or with exemplary soils consulting expertise? The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is now accepting nominations for the annual Soybean Master Adviser and Dave Rahe Excellence in Soils Consulting awards, presented by the ISA checkoff program. 

Any Illinois CCA whose certification is active, is interested and involved in soybean management, and works with farmers can be nominated for the Soybean Master Adviser award. The award is part of ISA’s effort to recognize CCAs for contributions to Illinois soybean production. 

“Every day there are CCAs helping soybean farmers in Illinois not only to be sustainable, but also profitable,” says Stephanie Porter, ISA Outreach Agronomist. “ISA is proud to recognize an individual that may not get the recognition that they deserve. We know that CCAs strive to help farmers be their very best and this award is our way of saying thank you for all that they do for Illinois agriculture.” 

ISA is a committed partner of the Illinois CCA program, offering multiple opportunities for CCAs to improve their soybean management skills to be the most knowledgeable CCAs in the U.S. ISA also recruits experts to serve as CCA Soy Envoys each year to contribute local, timely soybean management advice and expert insights to ISA’s agronomic website, ILSoyAdvisor.com. 

The Dave Rahe Excellence in Soils Consulting award, named in honor of the late CCA Soy Envoy, Dave Rahe, is an accolade given to one Illinois CCA nominated for their excellence in soils consulting within Illinois soybean production systems. 

Rahe was an ISA CCA Soy Envoy in 2019 and was passionate about soil management, having spent the majority of his career specializing in the field. He passed away suddenly in April 2020, but during his year as a CCA Soy Envoy, Dave authored blogs for ILSoyAdvisor, covering topics such as soil compaction, micronutrient management, cover crops, and more. 

Award winners will be recognized during ISA’s ILSoyAdvisor Soybean Summit event in February as well as the Annual Awards night in November. To nominate a CCA for the Soybean Master Adviser award, please provide additional information about the nominee by filling out this form. To nominate a CCA for the Dave Rahe Excellence in Soils Consulting award, please fill out this form. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of ISA board members, ISA agronomy staff, Illinois CCA board members, and university professionals. Nominations are open until October 27. 

Visit ILSoyAdvisor Awards to learn more.