Luther Smith

Luther Smith, CAE, is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the American Society of Agronomy (ASA); Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). Smith is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Smith provides strategic leadership and management for the Societies with priority area of science policy and government relations. His background includes experiences in farm production and operations, sales, marketing, Extension education and over 30 years in association management. During this time, he led the International Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program and established CCAs as Technical Service Providers (TSP) along with Certified Professional Soil Scientists (CPSS) with USDA-NRCS by signing one of the first TSP MOUs with the agency. He continues to work with the agency recommending ways to improve the process, collaborating on educational efforts for CCAs and CPSS who are TSPs and leads this relationship effort for the Societies. He started the Sustainable Agronomy Conference for practicing professionals like CCAs who work with farmers on improving their sustainable agronomic practices. His on-farm experience most recently included owning and operating a cow calf bison ranch where they rotationally grazed and raised bison on a 100% grass feeding program. He earned a BS degree in Farm Operation from Iowa State University and an MBA from York College of Pennsylvania. He resides in southern Wisconsin with his wife of nearly 40 years. He is the father of three married daughters and grandfather to four grandchildren.