(Ankeny, Iowa – May 26, 2026) The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is proud to celebrate this year’s award and scholarship winners. Each individual and organization has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advocating and advancing the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. These awards are presented annually, and this year’s winners will be recognized at the 81st SWCS International Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on July 28 in St. Louis, Missouri. Additional information about each recognition can also be found at www.swcs.org/awards.
The Hugh Hammond Bennett Award, the Society’s most prestigious award, recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources.
Rob Myers has been awarded the 2026 Hugh Hammond Bennett Award in recognition of his exemplary leadership, long-standing service to the conservation community, and his influential work advancing the use of cover crops that spans extensive educational, research, and policy efforts.
Myers currently serves as a director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and as professor of plant sciences at the University of Missouri. He has also been a past regional and national director with the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program.
Throughout his career, Myers has been a national leader in expanding the adoption of cover crops and soil health practices. He has produced widely used educational resources, including the Living Soil documentary, which has reached more than 4.4 million viewers. He also developed a national cover crop training program for more than 800 agricultural professionals.
Myers has played a vital role in shaping cover crop and soil health policy. Notably, he convened a national working group that led to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) adopting key soil health recommendations, including enhancements to crop insurance provisions for cover crops and new funding to support cover crop breeding.
As a scholar, Myers has authored or coauthored 154 publications related to conservation. He was the sole author of the reference book, Cover Crops: Improving Life on the Land, and served as a lead author of the USDA-SARE national report titled Cover Crop Economics.
Myers played a central role in organizing the first and second national conferences on cover crops and soil health, securing more than US$500,000 in support to make these landmark events possible. He has also contributed to the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation as a lead author and coauthor on submitted papers, one of which won the 2023 Editor’s Choice Award. He was also honored by SWCS with the Chair’s Leadership Award in 2014 and 2018 and the Fellow Award in 2024.
Rob Myers’ excellent leadership, scholarship, and service embody the values of the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award, and SWCS is proud to honor him as the 2026 recipient.
The Society Fellow Awards are given in recognition of SWCS members who have performed exceptional service in advocating the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. Fellowship is an honor bestowed upon the best in the conservation profession. This year’s Fellow awardees are:
- C. Wayne Honeycutt, North Carolina
- Zeyuan Qui, New Jersey
Additional awards presented in 2026 are listed below.
The Legacy of Conservation Award (NEW) is presented in honor of an individual whose lifetime of service and commitment to conservation has left an enduring mark on the field. This recognition celebrates those whose work, leadership, and generosity continue to inspire progress and shape the future of soil and water conservation.
- (Posthumous) William Boyer, Maryland
- (Posthumous) John Peterson, Virginia
The Conservation Innovation Award is presented in recognition of an outstanding activity, product, or service by a group, business, firm, corporation, or organization that promotes natural resource conservation.
- North Dakota Conservation Districts Employee Association, North Dakota
The Conservation Professional of the Year Award is presented in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in practicing and advancing the science and art of natural resource conservation.
- John Ramirez Avila, Mississippi
The Conservation Research Award is presented in recognition of Society members or teams of members whose research has led to exceptional improvements in soil conservation, water conservation, and/or related natural resources research.
- John Ramirez Avila, Mississippi
- Davie Kadyampakeni, Florida
- Bin Peng, Illinois
The Emerging Leader Alumni Award is presented in recognition of outstanding alumni of the Emerging Leaders Program who have demonstrated a commitment to conservation leadership and active participation in the Society.
- Samuel Bamidele, Texas
- Lacy Barnette, South Carolina
The Harold and Kay Scholl Excellence in Conservation Award is presented in recognition of individuals who work on the ground to provide direct and personal delivery or conservation planning and technical assistance.
- Stephen Kennedy, Nebraska
The Society Service Award is presented in recognition of Society members for service to their chapter or to the Society.
- Kent Bohnhoff, Illinois
- Krista Bryan, Wisconsin
- Teresa Matteson, Oregon
The Chair’s Leadership Award is presented in recognition of exemplary assistance in helping to carry out the goals and objectives of the Society.
- California/Nevada Chapter
- Keith Berns, Nebraska
- Meg Leader, Indiana
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Award Recipients
The Best Research Paper for Impact and Quality Award is presented in recognition of the impact and quality of the following research paper:
H. Leonhardt, M. Braito, and M. Penker. 2021. “Why Do Farmers Care about Rented Land?
Investigating the Context of Farmland Tenure.” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 76 (1):
89–102. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2021.0019.
The Editor’s Choice Award is presented in recognition of the following article of excellence appearing in the A Section of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous year:
R. C. Corry, J. Iverson Nassauer, R. M. Cruse, and M. V. Santelmann. 2025. “Conservation
Practices in 2025 Scenarios: Implications for Future US Agricultural Policy.” Journal of Soil and
Water Conservation 80 (3): 207–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224561.2025.2527556.
The Editor’s Choice Honorable Mention is presented in recognition of the following article of excellence appearing in the A Section of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous year:
B. M. McGill, and J. Brokish. 2025. “Nonlegume Cover Crops Generally Show No Effect on Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Temperate Row Crops Globally, but Long-Term Studies Needed in Illinois.” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 80 (5): 507–513. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224561.2025.2559443.
The Associate Editor Excellence Award is presented in recognition of associate editors for their contributions to the success and development of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
- David W. Archer, North Dakota
- Rachid Mrabet, Morocco
Chapter Award Recipients
The Exceptional Chapter Event Award is presented in recognition of chapters for significant achievements through a single activity conducted during the year.
- Georgia Chapter – World Soil Day
- Hoosier Chapter – SWCS Annual Meeting
- Kansas State University Chapter – Soil Painting Night
- Land of Lincoln Chapter – Kegs 4 Conservation
- Michigan Chapter – Binding Communities Together: Relating to Sustainable Farms Across the Mitten
The Outstanding Chapter Award is presented in recognition for the chapter’s success in carrying out its overall program during the past year.
- Georgia Chapter
- Iowa Chapter
- Kansas State University Student Chapter
- Michigan Chapter
- National Capital Chapter
- Nebraska Chapter
- North Dakota Chapter
Scholarship Recipients
Donald A. Williams Scholarship
The Donald A. Williams Scholarship provides financial assistance to members of SWCS who are currently employed but who wish to improve their technical or administrative competence in a conservation-related field through coursework at an accredited college or through a program of special study.
- Anna Swearengen, Missouri
Kenneth E. Grant Scholarship
The Kenneth E. Grant Scholarship provides financial aid to members of SWCS for interdisciplinary graduate-level research on a conservation topic that will extend the SWCS mission of fostering the science and the art of soil, water, and related natural resource management research.
- Nadeesha Vidanage, Texas
Melville H. Cohee Student Leader Conservation Scholarship
The Melville H. Cohee Student Leader Conservation Scholarship provides financial assistance to members of SWCS who are in their junior or senior year of full-time undergraduate study or are pursuing graduate level studies with a natural resources conservation orientation at a properly accredited college or university.
- Gagandeep Kaur, Washington
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About SWCS
For over eighty years, the Soil and Water Conservation Society has been the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation. We believe sustainable land and water management is essential to the continued security of the earth and its people. Our goal is to cultivate an organization of informed, dynamic individuals whose contributions create a bright future for agriculture, the environment, and society. The Soil and Water Conservation Society is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, with chapters across the United States and internationally.
For More Information:
For more information, contact us at awards@swcs.org.