SAN ANTONIO — A Delaware farmer who dedicated more than five decades to advancing the soybean industry has received the American Soybean Association’s most prestigious recognition.
Richard Wilkins of Greenwood was posthumously awarded the 2026 ASA Pinnacle Award during this year’s Commodity Classic trade show ceremony. The honor represents the organization’s highest tribute for lifetime achievements that demonstrate exceptional leadership and contributions to the soybean community.
Throughout his 53-year career, the American Soybean Association noted that Wilkins displayed groundbreaking leadership that enhanced both the sustainability and cohesion of the soybean sector.
Wilkins wore multiple hats as an advocate for soybean producers, serving as a Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association member, former ASA president, and former Delaware state executive director for the Farm Service Agency.
His agricultural journey started modestly in 1972 when he cultivated just three acres of soybeans on leased land. By his high school graduation in 1976, he had grown his operation to 65 acres.
These formative years shaped his lifelong commitment to diligent work, creative thinking, and producer-driven leadership — values that influenced his contributions throughout all levels of the soybean community.
On the state front, Richard participated in Delaware’s Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, advocating for farmers as they navigated increasingly complex nutrient management requirements.
In this position, he championed evidence-based, realistic approaches that enabled producers to meet environmental standards while maintaining both productivity and profitability.
According to the ASA, he was instrumental in the 2002 restructuring of the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association, guaranteeing that Delaware’s soybean growers maintained significant influence in regional and national policy conversations.
When Wilkins became ASA president in 2015, he guided the organization through significant national policy challenges, particularly during discussions surrounding Vermont’s proposed GMO labeling legislation.
During his tenure, the ASA rallied farmers and industry partners to inform lawmakers, ultimately achieving a consistent national food labeling framework that prevented consumer confusion, safeguarded the public, and maintained market stability.
“Richard will be remembered for his role in ensuring fair and equitable representation for smaller soybean-producing states within the American Soybean Association,” the ASA stated. “Richard’s enduring impact will be measured not only by the policies he helped shape and the markets he expanded, but also by the leaders he mentored.”
