URBANDALE,
Iowa - Leaders from Iowa’s agriculture and urban
sectors will work together over the next 10 months in a new program,
the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Ag-Urban Leadership
Initiative. This program offers learning opportunities for emerging
farm and urban leaders to study issues where they share a common
interest but lack common background. The first session is scheduled
for Tuesday, Feb. 20 through Wednesday Feb. 21, in Ames.
According to Curt Sindergard, president elect of ISA, “We
are looking for candidates from both agricultural and urban areas
who recognize that communities, families and businesses throughout
Iowa will benefit from developing leaders who understand the complex
issues surrounding agriculture’s economic, agronomic and
environmental performance. “
The four one-day sessions throughout the year will advance discussions
and projects revolving around the bio-economy, environmental issues,
land use options and quality of life for all Iowans. The sessions
are sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Checkoff and agribusiness partners,
including Heartland Co-op, headquartered in West Des Moines.
“We see a real need to build networks of informed leaders
across the rural/urban interface skilled in thinking through issues
and producing solutions,” continues Sindergard. “All
of Iowa will benefit.”
The Leadership Initiative class, to be composed of 10 emerging
farm leaders and 10 urban community leaders, will take advantage
of the learning opportunities at the On-Farm Network™ Conference
in Ames during its first session. Between sessions, class members
can participate in interactive sessions over the Internet or in
the countryside.
Currently, seven farm leaders and four urban leaders have committed
to this year’s program, so there are a few spaces left for
both rural and urban leader candidates. If you are interested
in learning more about the Ag-Urban Leadership Initiative or would
like to view the curriculum, please log on to www.Ag-UrbanLeadership.com,
or call Victoria Carver at the ISA office (515) 251-8640.
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