NEWS/RESOURCES

Achievement of the Year

Each year, the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club selects the AgriBusiness Achievement  of the Year, a person who has made a substantial contribution to the well-being of agriculture in the St. Louis area, either on a local or national scale. The recipient may or may not be a resident of the St. Louis area.

The individual’s service to agriculture reflects exceptional personal accomplishments and leadership that demonstrates outstanding abilities in administration, initiative in serving others, and a commitment to the improvement of agriculture.  These contributions may be through individual efforts as a farmer or businessperson, through his/her position with a company or organization/association, through a role as an educator, or as a government or other public service representative.

In addition to the individual’s accomplishments in agriculture, the person demonstrates community, area or national leadership through involvement in civic, church and other organizations and public service activities.

Since the award’s beginning in 1981, the following people have been named AgriBusiness Leaders of the Year (shown with their affiliation at the time of the award).  2020 - No awards presented due to the Pandemic.

2023 - Don Nikodim
Executive Director, Missouri Pork Association

2022 - Chris Chinn
Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture
2021 - Matt Crisp
Chief Executive Officer,  Benson Hill
2019 - Brett Begemann
Chief Operating Officer, Crop Science Division, Bayer

2018 - Thad Simons
Managing Director, The Yield Lab and President & CEO, Novus International, Inc.

2017 - Dr. William H. Danforth*
Founding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

2016 - Bert Vescolani
President & CEO, Saint Louis Science Center

2015 - Dean Dittmar
Program Advisor, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education (FCAE)

2014 - Fiscal Year Change  
Short year (No award given)

2013 - Stephen Censky
CEO, American Soybean Association

2012 - Dave Drennan
Executive Director, Missouri Dairy Association

2011 - John Shimkus
US Congressman, Illinois-15th District

2010 - Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer, National Corn Growers Association

2009 - Molly Cline
Sr. Director-Industry Affairs, Monsanto

2008 - John Becherer
CEO, United Soybean Board

2007 - Greg Guenther
Farmer, Guenther Farms, Belleville, IL

2006 - Steve Drake*
President and CEO, Drake & Company

2005 - Jim Talent
U.S. Senator, Missouri

2004 - Roger Beachy
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

2003 - Kenny Hulshof
U.S. Congressman, Missouri

2002 - Christopher Brescia
Midwest Area River Coalition 2000

2001 - Ron Scherer*
Owner, Ron Scherer & Company Marketing Communications

1999 - David Schumacher
Agricultural Director, 550 KTRS Radio

1998 - Morris Larson
Agricultural consultant

1997 - Christopher "Kit" Bond
U.S. Senator, Missouri

1996 - Dale Ludwig
Missouri Soybean Association

1995 - Richard McWard*
Bunge Corporation

1994 Bill*, John* and Louis* Keller
Horseradish Growers, Collinsville, IL

1993 - Jerry Neff*
Monsanto

1992 - Richard Stegmann
CEO, Lange-Stegmann Fertilizer

1991 - Jim Russell*
MO-AG Industries

1990 - James Keast*
Former General Counsel, USDA

1989 - Charles Kruse

Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture

1988 - John Pellet* and Earl Stolte*
St. Louis County Farmers

1987 - Peter Meyers*
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, USDA

1986 - John Campbell*
Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Illinois

1985 - Jeffrey Gain*
CEO, National Corn Growers Association

1984 - Nicholas Reding
Monsanto

1983 - Glenn Heitz*
CEO, Farm Credit Banks

1982 - R. Hal Dean*
CEO, Ralston Purina Company

1981 - Ken Bader*
CEO, American Soybean Association

*Deceased

Outstanding Member of the Year

Each year, the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club selects the Outstanding Member  of the Year, a person who has participated, been involved, and taken the lead in numerous club activities and events.  The individual has demonstrated and promoted the importance of food and agriculture within the region.  

In addition to the individual’s accomplishments with the club, the person demonstrates community, area or national leadership through involvement in civic, church and other organizations and public service activities.

Since the award’s beginning in 2016, the following people have been named Outstanding Members of the Year (shown with their affiliation at the time of the award). 

2023 - Karla Roeber
Vice President of Public & Government Affairs, The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

2022 - Dean Campbell
Farmer and Owner, Agritech Acres

2021 - Matt Amick
Director of Biofuels & New Uses, Missouri Soybean Association

2019 - Richard Norris
Director, St. Louis Community College – Center for Plant and Life Sciences

2018 - Warren Stemme
Farmer, Warren Stemme Farms

2017 - Denny Mertz
Farmer and Director, St. Louis County Farm Bureau

2016 - Steve Launius
Farmer and Board Member, Washington County Farm Bureau

Criteria for Awards

1 – Individual’s contribution to the promotion, development, improvement, and well-being of the agricultural industry in the St. Louis area, either on a local, state, or national scale. While it would be generally advantageous for the recipient to be from the St. Louis area, it is not required.

2 - Individual’s service to agriculture reflects exceptional personal accomplishments and leadership that demonstrates outstanding abilities in administration, initiative in serving others, and a commitment to the improvement of agriculture. These contributions may be through individual efforts or through their position with a company, organization, association, agency, educational institution, governmental office, or other public/private entity.

3 - Individual’s leadership and involvement in community and civic events and activities.
The nomination should be made on individual or company letterhead stationery and include the following information:

  • Name of award nominee
  • Title
  • Employer
  • Name, signature, and contact information of the person submitting the nomination
  • 2 page maximum summary in paragraph form including reasons and qualifications relating to the selection criteria