ISA’s Brehm recognized as conservation leader

February 27, 2025 | Kriss Nelson

For his impactful leadership and substantial contributions to better water quality, Evan Brehm, Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) conservation agronomist, was given the Ag Leader Award for Conservation.

“Receiving this award is a true honor as it comes from your peers,” says Brehm. “I am surrounded by some of the most dedicated people in the industry who care about Iowa agriculture, where positive attitudes are contagious. I am fortunate to work directly with ag retailers and farmers. This is where the work starts and gets accomplished.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented Brehm with the award during the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Showcase earlier this month.

Liz Hobart, a recently retired government relations leader with GROWMARK, was also recognized.

“I am delighted to present Evan Brehm and Liz Hobart with the Ag Leader Award for Conservation. Iowa has set records for conservation each of the last three years; that would not be possible without passionate leaders like Evan and Liz. They have been instrumental in working with farmers, landowners, businesses and many other public and private partners to get more conservation practices established,” says Naig. “As we further accelerate this work in the years and decades ahead, it will take ongoing coordination and cooperation by many partners across all landscapes to keep the momentum building. I’m confident this progress will continue because of dedicated folks like Liz and Evan.”

Brehm, based in eastern Iowa, works closely with ag retailers, farmers and the City of Cedar Rapids to implement conservation practices that contribute to soil health, improved water quality and greater farmer productivity.

“The Iowa Soybean Association Research Center for Farming Innovation is grateful to have Evan’s leadership to scale in-field and edge-of-field conservation practices through the collaborative partnership with the City of Cedar Rapids and Linn Coop,” says Christie Wiebbecke, ISA chief office research and conservation. “He brings energy, passion and credibility to all he does, building relationships with Iowa farmers across the state and supporting their unique needs.”

As part of his position as conservation agronomist, Brehm is responsible for connecting growers to cost-share programs, providing advice on nutrient management and delivering technical assistance for the installation of edge-of-field practices.

“I am incredibly proud of Evan for winning this award as a leader in conservation,” says ISA Conservation Agronomy Lead Mike Gilman. “He has consistently demonstrated exceptional vision, dedication and a deep passion for his work in conservation.”

Brehm has been an integral part of several batch and build projects aimed at scaling up the installation of edge-of-field practices as part of the Middle Cedar Watershed Regional Conservation Partnership Project (RCPP). These practices include saturated buffers, bioreactors and water-quality wetlands.

“Evan’s leadership has driven significant progress in our conservation efforts and inspired Iowa Soybean farmers to push boundaries and think creatively,” says Gilman. “We are extremely fortunate to have someone like Evan as a leader in his field.  It is a testament to his work ethic, strategic thinking and commitment to making a difference in the field of conservation.”

Brehm has developed relationships with sales agronomists to promote conservation practices and has assisted with signing up farmers to participate in publicly and privately funded conservation programs. Cover crop utilization has gained traction in east central Iowa, and he hopes that momentum will continue to build in the years ahead. He believes trusted relationships and collaboration are keys to meeting big conservation goals.

“I say this at many presentations, and I mean it: I learn from the Iowa farmer. Seeing their passions for their businesses, the land, and future generations of agriculture motivates me to be a solution to their answers now and in the future,” says Brehm. “Receiving the Leader in Conservation Award from Secretary Naig and IDALS means the world to me. Iowa agriculture means everything to me, and I am excited to continue the future of conservation in agriculture for decades to come.”

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