The premier ag leadership program in Indiana is accepting applications for their next class. A scholarship for full-time farmers is available through the Indiana corn and soybean checkoff programs.
Applications are being accepted now through January 19th for the Agricultural Leadership Program administered by AgrIInstitute. The program is for anyone in the ag industry or those who represent rural communities. For farmers, what can you get out of the program?
“The exposure and networking that you’re not going to find out in the middle of your 80-acre cornfield on a daily basis,” says Doug Matthys, Chief Financial Officer of Shady Lane Farms in St. Joseph County.
Matthys is one of two farmers in ALP Class 21 who received a $1,000 scholarship from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance to help pay for the $6,000 program.
Matthys says being part of the program has led him to consider pursuing future leadership capacities in the industry, like board leadership for the checkoff programs.
“You know, you reflect on how you learn to farm from your grandpa and your dad and you’re that next generation, and you realize if good leaders aren’t stepping up, or people that are genuinely interested in trying to do things the right way, however that may be, if they’re not willing to put themselves into the leadership roles, who will? And then what does that look like for the next generation?”
Andrew Winger, also part of the current ALP class and owner/operator of Winger Farms in Benton County, says the program has challenged some of his thinking about the industry. Prior to applying, Winger questioned what the return on his investment would be.
“I definitely think that there is a return. Can I tell you how much it is? No. Will I ever be able to tell you how much it is? Probably not. But I’m comfortable today knowing that it was a good investment in myself and my farming operation.”
I, too, am a member of Class 21 of ALP, and I highly recommend investing in yourself through this program. We take off for Ghana and Kenya on our two-week international trip in February.
For more information about the program, reach out to one of the many graduates of the program or visit agriinstitute.org.
