2019 Leadership At Its Best Class (Left to Right): Darin Johnson (MN), David Walton (IA), Jordan Scott (SD), Tyler Clay (MS), Jared Nash (KS), Josh Gackle (ND), Charlie Roberts (TN), and Kent Grotelueschen (NE).

ASA farmer-leaders from eight states participated in Syngenta’s new Leadership At Its Best program last week in Raleigh, N.C. and the Washington, D.C. area. Participants in the new format for this program had the opportunity to interact with leaders from several other agricultural organizations who also attended the event. The leaders received training in several areas, including agricultural issues, communications, media training, and effective advocacy in Washington and through social media.

“Growers from across the country are learning from one another, while also enhancing their advocacy skills to stand up and answer the call for American agriculture,” said Andrew Lauver, Industry Affairs Manager for Syngenta.  “Each organization represents an integral piece of the fabric that makes up rural America and Leadership At Its Best continues to strengthen that voice”

The participants started their week in Raleigh, N.C., where they had the opportunity to hear presentations from several Syngenta staff members and tour the Syngenta Crop Lab. In the middle of the week, the group traveled to Washington, D.C. where they developed personal advocacy plans and received more training on issues and how to effectively carry their message to the Hill from the Washington staff at various national organizations, including John Gordley, director of the ASA Washington office. The group also participated in Hill visits with legislators from their states.

Leadership At Its Best Program participants are nominated by their state soybean association. This year’s class members included: Tyler Clay, Mississippi; Josh Gackle, North Dakota; Kent Grotelueschen, Nebraska; Darin Johnson, Minnesota; Jared Nash, Kansas; Charlie Roberts, Tennessee; Jordan Scott, South Dakota; and David Walton, Iowa.

ASA appreciates the continued support provided by Syngenta to develop future leaders for the agriculture industry. ASA will be reaching out to state soybean associations this spring to begin collecting nominations for the 2020 class. For more information, visit the “Learn” section of the ASA website at soygrowers.com, or contact Michelle Hummel in the ASA office at mhummel@soy.org.