Former South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Lucas Lentsch resigned as chief executive officer of the United Soybean Board on Friday (Feb. 13, 2026)– effective immediately.
The board of the national farmer-led organization says Darryl Chatman, executive vice president of compliance, will provide interim leadership until a national search for a new CEO is complete.
Lentsch, who had led the board since 2024, submitted his resignation immediately following the group’s February board meeting. The resignation comes amid reports of internal disagreements over management authority and staffing decisions, with some board members seeking limits on executive autonomy. Sources familiar with the situation characterized a rift between Lentsch’s leadership style and the expectations of the USB board members.
Lentsch was the South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture from 2013 to 2016. He left Pierre to become the CEO at Midwest Dairy based in Minneapolis, representing dairy farmers in a 10-state region that included South Dakota. Following that, he was an executive vice president with Dairy Management, Inc., liaising between national and local dairy checkoff organizations, nationwide.
The United Soybean Board oversees investments from the mandatory soybean checkoff, which funds marketing, research and education aimed at increasing demand for U.S. soybeans. The board represents farmers from more than 30 states and influences domestic and international soy markets.
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