AMES, Iowa – Leadership of the Iowa Crop Improvement Association will change on March 16, when Doan Schmitz becomes the organization’s interim director during a search for a new director. Current director, Ryan Budnik, who has served as ICIA director since September 2023, has accepted a role outside the university.
The Iowa Crop Improvement Association is the official seed certifying agency in Iowa, ensuring certification standards are met through field inspections and lab testing. The nonprofit organization has been an affiliate of Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 1950. It works with the college to test and disseminate information regarding crop cultivar adaptation and performance.
Schmitz has been an ICIA staff member for 27 years. He earned a farm operation certificate in 1981 and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business in 1990 from Iowa State.
As director, Schmitz will provide leadership and strategic direction to ICIA’s staff and members. He will also work with the ICIA board of directors to develop policies and programs that fulfill the organization’s mission.
“It has been both rewarding and a pleasure to work at ICIA over the past 27 years. I look forward to the opportunity to assist ICIA during this transition and to supporting the new director once they are hired,” Schmitz said.
Budnik said his time serving as ICIA director is a privilege he doesn’t take lightly.
“I'm thankful to every grower, board member and colleague who believed in our mission, and even more so in me,” Budnik said. “Together we've worked to ensure Iowa's producers have access to the highest-quality seed and the most reliable yield performance data in the country. The team we've built is exceptional, the organization is well-positioned, and I have every bit of confidence that ICIA's best days are still ahead, especially under Doan's interim leadership. I’m excited for my new opportunity outside the university and deeply grateful for the professional relationships that will continue to shape my journey for years to come."
“We appreciate Ryan’s outstanding leadership, creativity and many years of service to Iowa State and our college. He was always looking ahead for new ways to advance the mission of ICIA and of the college. As a CALS alum, I know he will continue to be a great ambassador for our college going forward,” said Daniel J. Robison, endowed dean’s chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “The operation of ICIA will proceed seamlessly under Doan’s leadership, including for the upcoming planting season. We greatly appreciate Doan stepping up at this time, and his deep experience, to guide the organization forward.”
ICIA Board Chair Will Cornelius, soybean lead and agronomist with Cornelius Seed, and Robison, in coordination with the ICIA board and staff and college leadership will organize the search for a new director.
"I was able to see first-hand all the wonderful things Ryan did during his time with ICIA. He deserves a lot of credit for how strong ICIA continues to be,” Cornelius said. “While we search for the next strong leader for ICIA, there is no one better to lead the organization than Doan, and I look forward to working with him during the transition.”
About the Iowa Crop Improvement Association
The ICIA comprises member companies and individuals working in the seed industry to advance seed and crop improvement.
The ICIA’s members are farmers, seed companies and others working in crop improvement. Its board includes several representatives from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, chair of the Department of Agronomy and director of the Seed Science Center.
The organization gives back to Iowa State in several ways:
- awards several scholarships to students
- offers multiple summer internship programs
- provides financial support to the Iowa State Crops Team
- sponsors the Iowa FFA Agronomy Career Development event
Contacts
Doan Schmitz, Iowa Crop Improvement Association, 515-294-6268, doan@iastate.edu
Whitney Baxter, Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications, 515-294-2314, wjsager@iastate.edu