HUMBOLDT — Dean Coleman, of Humboldt, who passed away last fall from injuries sustained in a farm-related accident, was honored for his many contributions to the soybean industry with an Iowa Soybean Association leadership award. The award, sponsored by Stine Seed, was accepted by his wife Carol and sons Nick and Mike.

Coleman was described as a dedicated soybean leader who served his peers with distinction at the local, state and national level.

“I’ve worked alongside many outstanding farmer leaders during my many years at ISA,” said ISA CEO Kirk Leeds. “These are people who care about their families, their farms and their communities. Dean was one of those outstanding individuals who I was privileged to know and honored to call a friend.”

Coleman served as a director on the ISA board including the offices of president, vice president, treasurer and at-large. He also chaired the ISA Supply and Demand, Public Affairs and Information and Education committees and traveled the state, country and world promoting U.S. soy.

At the time of his passing, he was serving on the American Soybean Association’s Board of Directors.

A third-generation farmer, Coleman grew soybeans and corn with his wife, Carol, and son Mike. As a family, they hosted several foreign buyer groups in addition to area school children to plant and harvest soybeans and corn. He held numerous ag leadership positions at the county level with Farm Bureau, county extension council and fair board and was a board member for a biodiesel plant start up.

“I spent many years working with Dean on the issues of the day,” Leeds says. “I witnessed how he approached every day and every challenge with a calmness grounded in his faith. Dean was a great person, husband, father and grandfather and outstanding farmer leader who made everyone around him a better person.”