Class XIII Announced

CUTTING EDGE OPPORTUNITIES AWAIT NEW LEADERS IN KANSAS
FILE STORY – 2015 for current news, visit http://karlprogram.wpengine.com/connect-with-karl/ 

Manhattan, Kansas – “Big shoes will be needed to walk in the path of those that stepped up before us”, announced Al Davis, President of Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc. Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc. announced the thirteen and 25th anniversary class of the KARL Program during a special celebration Saturday.

The KARL, Inc. board of directors, graduates and donors celebrated the announcement of the 30 newest members of the advanced state-wide leadership training experience. KARL Class XIII (2015-2017) was introduced at the K-State Union, Manhattan. The KARL Program is a two-year educational experience offering intensive study, training, and travel for emerging leaders in agriculture and rural communities.

According to program director Al Davis, KARL Class XIII represents both the small Kansas community and urban viewpoints. “We took 5 days the first full week of May to interview the screened group of 51 finalists. Ten to 11 interviews per day for 5 days in early May was both grueling and rewarding for teams of KARL Board members and alumni.”

“The 30 members of the new class were incredibly excited to get the notice calls and humbled by the selection due to the competitiveness of the candidate pool. The class average age has risen from 35 for Class XII to 37 for Class XIII. The diversity is amazing and we also picked up a new county so KARL will now have a footprint of 390 participants in 103 of our 105 counties”, Davis Added.

“Our new leaders will be participating in nine in-state seminars in every region of Kansas. Study tours over the two years will include a national seminar entitled Blue Chip, which is an executive review of a Fortune 500 corporation’s strategic management processes; a tour to Washington DC studies decision making on the federal level and an International Study Tour will be the capstone learning event in 2017″, added Davis.

Evening presentations provided the much-anticipated details of the KARL Class XIII two year training programs study tour. “The class will be headed south…The International Study Tour will take Class XIII to the country of Chile. The South American country is a rapidly growing into a major competitor and partner in feeding the world,” according to Davis. {Click Below for the Class XIII Composite:
http://karlprogram.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Class-XIII-Composite.pdf }

Davis added, “To ensure KARL can continue its work developing leadership excellence, we need your support. The new Class XIII members will soon begin attending seminars. Their first year includes economic literacy instruction, communications training, conflict management exposure and the development of valuable contacts at the local, state and national levels. The second year focuses on biosecurity, energy, water conservation, food safety, trade balance issues and ends with a study tour to experience the culture, political system and agriculture of a competitor and trading partner. By learning about the world, as well as local and national issues, KARL graduates are prepared to take on today’s critical challenges.”

KARL’s mission is to provide first-class leadership development for agricultural and rural stakeholders by designing and offering challenging and illuminating education and enrichment programs as well as a forum for continuous engagement. The organization’s vision is to be the preferred partner in developing excellence in agricultural and rural leadership.

The KARL training experience carries a value of nearly $20,000 per person. Since no tax revenues are utilized for the program, funding is provided by contributions from the private sector. Donations from individuals, organizations, companies, corporations, and foundations provide over 4/5ths of the program’s budget. The participants pay a tuition fee of $2,000 each of the two years for the remaining costs. People wishing to invest in their own future by supporting the program can make their tax-deductible contributions directly to KARL at 101 Umberger Hall, Manhattan KS 66506. Call (785)532-6300 for

more information.

To view more information regarding the new class, alumni, the curriculum or program goals visit the website at http://karlprogram.wpengine.com/.

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{Editors Note: To Localize see the new class members list attached. Individual portraits are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/karlprogram/sets/72157652988951206/ }
CONTACT:
Jill Zimmerman, President
KARL Program
101 Umberger Hall
Manhattan KS 66506
785-532-6300
karl@ksu.edu
http://karlprogram.wpengine.com