South Dakota Soybean Executive Draws on Policy and Leadership Experience
August 11, 2026
Kevin Scott has begun his second month as the executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Association and the South Dakota Soybean Checkoff. Scott is a past president of both the South Dakota Soybean Association as well the American Soybean Association. Each is a membership organization, where as a volunteer farmer/leader, Scott helped to steer policy on state and federal levels. Our conversation took place on July 9th, in Portland, Oregon, the final day of a South Dakota Soybean See For Yourself tour to the Pacific Northwest, and Scott’s first official day to head the organization. That followed Scott’s predecessor Jerry Schmitz’s last official day on July 8th. Shifting to his new position, Scott is involved from the standpoint of executive leadership.
“My goal in doing the policy work that I've done for the last 25 or 30 years is to kind of ensure the future of South Dakota farming and soybeans in particular,” Scott told the South Dakota Soybean Network. “I’m hoping that the next generation has a place to go and keep farming, farming the way we need to to produce protein for the world.”
Scott’s leadership history includes a few years on the checkoff supported U.S. Soybean Export Council promoting foreign sales of U.S. soybeans.
“Whether it's the GMO issues at that time or biofuels began to be played at that point; and for five years I served on that board,” he recalled, explaining his role on the USSEC board. “And then in the last couple years of my ASA board action I was chosen as president of that organization.”
Among his responsibilities as executive director for South Dakota Soybean, Kevin Scott is to coax farmers – young farmers especially – to consider positions in South Dakota Soybean governance.
“There are leadership development programs that you can take part in, which are excellent. Corteva Young Leader Program is a wonderful way to start on the Association Board because if you're selected for that program, you attend training events and possibly a [Washington,] D.C. event to see policy being made in person,” he said. “And then that allows you to sit on the South Dakota Soybean Board for three years.”
Many of today’s soybean farmer/leaders began their soybean leadership careers upon taking part in available develop programs.
“And so we like to use those opportunities to fit you into a position of leadership,” said Scott.