Kansas Soybean Honors Research Pioneer

By Scout Nelson

Dr. William Schapaugh was honored for 47 years of service to soybean farmers in Kansas during the annual Kansas Soybean Celebration. He received the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor given by the Kansas Soybean Commission, which recognized his lifelong dedication to soybean research and public plant breeding.

Schapaugh began his career in 1979 as Kansas State University’s first soybean breeder. At that time, soybean farming in Kansas was expanding quickly, and public research programs were still developing. Reflecting on those early years, he said, “I just loved to work on soybeans.” He noted that leaders at the time believed soybean production had strong potential, and that belief proved correct.

Research methods have changed greatly since then. Early in his career, Schapaugh relied on basic tools and manual data collection. Today, his program uses advanced equipment, including drones and molecular markers, to study plant growth, stress, and genetics. These tools allow researchers to collect more data and grow multiple soybean generations each year, speeding improvement.

Despite these changes, Schapaugh explained that the main goal remained the same. “Over time, the core goal has not changed: to develop soybean varieties and germplasm that perform well in production or are useful for breeding and research,” he said.

Beyond scientific progress, Schapaugh emphasized the importance of people. He expressed pride in the students, staff, and collaborators who contributed to the program. “Building capacity in plant breeding and agriculture is just as important as a variety of release,” he said.

Public soybean breeding programs play a unique role by focusing on long term needs, regional adaptation, and traits that may not offer immediate profits. According to Schapaugh, this approach helps farmers improve yield stability, reduce risk, and increase choice.

Looking ahead, he believes soybean breeding will become more predictive and better connected to environmental data. His career reflects the long-term value of public research. “Plant breeding is a long-term investment,” Schapaugh said. “Decisions made today affect what farmers can plant a decade from now.”

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski