The Link

11/13/2012
IOWA CORN GROWERS ASSN.

21 Iowans Named to Iowa Corn Leadership Class (I-LEAD)

JOHNSTON, Iowa - November 13, 2012 - The first meeting of the new Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement And Development (I-LEAD) class (6) was held at the Iowa Corn office on November 8-9, 2012. The class consists of current farmers, agribusiness and governmental emerging leaders from across the state.

"The number of highly qualified applicants was outstanding," said Bob Hemesath, an ICGA farmer director and chair of the committee that oversees the program. "This class represents the top future leaders that exist here in Iowa and I am looking forward to being a part of their two-year leadership adventure."

The Iowa Corn I-LEAD program was developed and is sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) in recognition that the future of Iowa agriculture depends on developing leaders who have a passion for agriculture. The goal of the two-year program is to provide Iowa's talented men and women with the tools they need to succeed as leaders and spokespeople. The first session included leadership style learning and team building. Other session will include commodity information, a domestic agricultural mission and policy information. The class may choose to fundraise for an international mission to their location of choice in the second year before graduation. More than 100 leaders have graduated from the I-LEAD program and many have gone onto leadership roles within the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board or other community or commodity organizations.

Participants in I-LEAD Class IV, selected through an application and interview process, include:
Jarrod Bakker (Dike), Laurie Bedord (Ankeny), Carly Cummings (Ames), Ryan Gallagher (Washington), Paul Gieselman (Morning Sun), Adam Gregg (Johnston), Jeff Johnson (Riverton), Mark Kenney (Ankeny), Josh Lammert (Silver City), Kayla Lyon (Ames), Gretchen McClain (Stockport), Thomas Meierotto (West Des Moines), Devin Mogler (Des Moines), Jason Ribbens (Webster City), Brian Rouse (Emmetsburg), Dan Runner (Gilman), Brent Schipper (Conrad), Vince Sitzmann (Prairie City), Adam Stamp (Ankeny), Jody Van Regenmorter (Inwood), Chris Wolters (Sanborn)

Editor's Note: Group photo available upon request.

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I-LEAD is a resource for talented people who want to contribute to a better future for Iowa's communities and the long-term profitability of agriculture in Iowa, and is charged with the task of developing stronger leaders for Iowa agriculture.

(CONTACT: Mindy Williamson, Communications and PR Director, 515-225-9242)