Aaron Nelson of Mead, NE has been selected as the Nebraska Soybean Association’s (NSA) 2009 Young Leader. Nelson was chosen from a group of applicants by the NSA Young Leader committee.

The Young Leader Program is sponsored by the American Soybean Association and Pioneer Hi-Bred a DuPont business. It is designed to recognize and strengthen leadership in the agricultural community as well as cultivate producer leaders who are shaping the U.S. soybean industry.

Aaron, is involved with the no-till corn and soybean family farm operation in Saunders County. In addition to farming in partnership with his father, he works as a crop consultant and plans to some day carry on the family farm operation. His non-farm activities include involvement in his local church as a Youth and worship Leader.

Aaron earned a Bachelors degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. “Agricultures ability to stay viable in a global market place and the need to continue to reach out to other countries and build up strong trade relations is one of the top issues I feel needs to be addressed,” he says. He adds “continued research into beneficial uses and markets for soybeans will help to assure a prosperous future for agriculture.”

Nelson will join the 2009 class of Young Leaders, which is made up of selected leaders from each soybean producing state, to participate in a challenging and educational leadership experience December 1-4, 2008 at Pioneer headquarters in Johnston IA,. They will complete the second part of training February 24-28, 2009 in Grapevine, TX in conjunction with the annual Commodity Classic. This seminar offers the opportunity for participants to enhance their leadership skills, as well as meet and learn from other Young Leaders from around the United States.

Young Leader committee chairman and Young Leader alumnus, Larry Walla of Linwood says “this program has been instrumental in helping to identify and develop some of the top soybean industry leaders in the state. Several past winners have gone on to serve in leadership positions with our state and national organizations.”

NSA is the grassroots commodity organization that is the policy advocate and collective voice of its producer-members on state wide issues and represents Nebraska domestically and internationally through membership of the American Soybean Association.