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Feb 25, 2026
Tennessee soybean grower Alex Forsbach says that land stewardship and conservation practices are making a positive difference in his operation. He’s witnessed first-hand a significant increase in organic matter alone over the last 10 years and attributes that directly to his use of no-till and cover crops.
The American Soybean Association presented Forsbach with the 2026 National Conservation Legacy Award during the annual ASA Awards Celebration at Commodity Classic in San Antonio.
“Conservation has a significant role in creating and carrying out my farming legacy,” Forsbach says. “My children and farm visitors see conservation in action setting a foundation for the future. I love talking to people who are not directly involved in agriculture because you get the best questions on why we do things a certain way. It is a way for me to challenge conventional thinking.”
While the future is filled with unknowns, Forsbach knows conservation helps him think long-term.
The Conservation Legacy Award is a national program designed to recognize the outstanding environmental achievements of soybean farmers, which help produce more sustainable U.S. soybeans.
A national selection committee, composed of soybean farmers, conservationists, agronomists and natural resource professionals, evaluated nominees based on their on-farm legacy of conservation practices and outreach efforts in their local community. The program is sponsored by ASA, BASF, Bayer, Nutrien, the United Soybean Board/Soy Checkoff and Valent USA.
The following individuals received regional Conservation Legacy Awards during ASA’s awards program. Click below to read more on each of the regional winners’ operations:
ASA will be accepting applications for the 2027 Conservation Legacy Awards this summer. For more information on this program visit soygrowers.com.
