All funds for the program come from private and corporate support, donations and private grants. KARL offices are housed on the Kansas State University campus under an agreement with K-State Research and Extension.
Program Overview
The Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program is a two-year course offering intensive study, training and travel for future leaders in agriculture and rural communities. Each class is composed of up to 30 individuals who will be either actively involved as operators of production agriculture or from agribusiness, related organizations, and rural community leadership roles. Class members are predominately between the ages of 25 and 55 and have demonstrated leadership ability.
A variety of challenges—environmental, economic and political—are unfolding and will continue to test agriculture, agri-business and rural communities. Strong, progressive leaders, with a broad base of knowledge, will be necessary to help guide communities and industry as decisions are made. KARL trains these types of leaders to help ensure a bright future for Kansas.
The cost of the KARL Program is approximately $500,000 per class, or nearly $17,000 per leader (class member). Leaders provide $3,000 each—$90,000 total—plus some incidental expenses toward program costs. Foundation, organization, corporate and individual contributions are utilized to provide the remaining $410,000 to cover costs for training the KARL class.
Curriculum
The two-year Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program consists of nine in-state seminars, one Blue Chip seminar, a National Study tour to Washington DC, and an international study tour to one or more countries. Seminars are in three-day segments, usually noon Wednesday through noon Friday, from November through February. The national and international seminars are one week and 12 -14 days, respectively, and are held in March.
Click on seminar titles to view session scribe notes and pictures (as a pdf). As the current class participates in each of the following seminars, the information will be updated.
Year One
GENESIS
Rock Springs/Abilene
Group Dynamic Skills
Leadership – Skills, Styles, Perils and Team Building
Ethics in Leadership
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Garden City
Macro View of the Economy
Community Management
Value-Added Agricultural Products
Beef and Other Industry Instructional Tours
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Colby
Image Building
Discussion Skills
Writing Skills
Extemporaneous Speaking
Media Workshop
Public Service
THE NEEDS OF THE MANY
Topeka
Economics
Population Trends
Understanding and Working with the Legislature
Regulating Agriculture
Media Influence
TOOLS FOR PEACE
Leavenworth
General Staff College Briefing
International Security Research
Prison Systems
Fort Leavenworth Tour
Juvenile Intervention
Kings and Kingmakers
NATIONAL DIRECTIONS
Washington, D.C.
U.S. Congress
White House Fellows
Embassy Reception
USDA Trade Representatives
Federal Agencies
Year Two
BLUE CHIP
Monsanto, St. Louis (location changes every class)
Best Practices in Corporate Management
Research and Development
Marketing and Distribution
Human Resource Development
Community Investment
ADAPTING TO CHANGE
Pittsburg
Water Quality and Quantity
Mining and Land Reclamation
Environment
Animal Science Issues
AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE
Hutchinson
Change Science and New Paradigms
Trends of Agriculture and Analytical Skills – Futuring Exercise
International Tour Briefing – Cultures, Customs and Politics
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Wichita
Aviation’s Impact on the Wichita/Kansas/US Economy
McConnell’s Impact on Kansas Economy/Role in Trade
Educational Excellence in a Competitive International Environment
Tour Aviation Industry, McConnell AFB, Cargill
KARL in the Classroom
INTERNATIONAL STUDY SEMINAR
Class XI Tour to Peru (2013) (location changes every class)
Trade Relationships
Comparative Agriculture
Domestic and Foreign Policies
Culture, Customs, Politics
THE POWER OF ONE
Salina
International Seminar Debriefing
Leadership Challenge
Implementation
Graduation
Eligibility
Candidate Qualities
If you are committed to Kansas agriculture and rural communities and their relationship to local, national and international issues, you can apply for our two-year program offered every odd-numbered year. Each applicant must be a citizen of the U.S. and a resident of the state of Kansas for at least one year at the time of application, with no more than one family member accepted into any one class. Candidates must have a current record of demonstrated leadership as an adult in organizations or their community.
Candidate Selection
Each class is composed of up to 30 individuals involved as operators of production agriculture, from support industries, and/or involved in rural community
leadership positions. Self-employed applicants must offer evidence that time away for study tours and seminars will not adversely affect their business or operation. Those who are not self-employed must have the approval of their employers.
A selection committee will review applications and schedule interviews with the top candidates in their areas. Candidates must be available for a regional interview during the first full week of May in odd numbered years. The class, a representative cross-section of Kansas, is selected in a joint meeting of the Board by the end of May.
Candidate Expectations
Accepted candidates are expected to actively participate in every session of the two-year program. The participant tuition fee of $3,000 will be scheduled for payment as follows: $500 due after class membership notification (non-refundable) by May 28 with registration; $1,000 due by August 1; balance of $1,500 due by August 1 of the second year.
Seminars are in three-day segments, usually noon Wednesday through noon Friday, from November through February. The national and international seminars are one week and 12 -14 days, respectively, and are held in March.
Application
To apply for the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program, please fill out this application (click for pdf) and essay (click for pdf) and email it to karl@ksu.edu or print and mail it to
KARL
101 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
Nominations
KARL is now accepting nominations for the next class of participants. Send us your nomination, and we will send them a letter noting that you nominated them for the program. Self-nominations are accepted as well. To express your interest or to nominate someone you know for the next KARL class, please send an email to karl@ksu.edu.
The Graduate Program
The KARL Graduate Program allows for participants to remain involved in the KARL wisdom and skill-building experiential processes through lifelong learning. Spouses are part of the graduate program experience. The continuing education for our alumni includes critical-issue and personal-development workshops and a state-wide winter conference emphasizing current “big issue” trends. Our pinnacle is the study of business, leadership and cultural diversity through intrastate, domestic and international study tours.
The tours allow for a broad approach to comparative urban and rural life study. This includes experiences that evaluate production, processing, marketing, research, government oversight and regulation and societal and cultural interaction. Whether domestic or international, the people to people exchanges provide a deeper look into options to better our own rural community development, education, the arts, future opportunities and appreciation of other cultures, all providing for an improved quality of life.
Eligibility
The KARL Graduate program is a pay-as-you-go, continuing education experience. None of the funds raised for KARL are used to support the graduate program. Any graduate and their spouse/guest may attend the workshops and conferences which have an unlimited number of attendees.
Tour Policy
Alumni must register on a first come first served basis via the completion of prepared registration forms for the specific tour. Total number of participants will be limited for each tour. Open to KARL Alumni and spouses only with optional opening, if not filled, to current KARL, Inc. Board members, then KARL past board members, then if not filled, by other state ag leadership alumni residing in Kansas.
Fees will be based on double occupancy. All wishing to participate must also meet the following criteria:
1. Be a current $250 or higher annual contributor to KARL.
2. Pay a deposit of $500 per person registered.
3. Agree to pay fees to KARL in full by the due dates prior to the tours.
Tours will be coordinated by Jack W. Lindquist, KARL alumni graduate program coordinator. Tour guides not affiliated directly with KARL will assist in all international tours.
Events
February 20-21, 2012
Winter Conference with workshops on “New Methods of Communication” including social media; “Opposition Think,” understanding the message from alternate viewpoints; and “Mind Bending,” rewiring for tomorrow’s learning techniques.
Where: K-State Alumni Center, Manhattan, KS
Registration
To register for an upcoming event, please fill out this form (hyperlink to a pdf event registration form) and email it to karl@ksu.edu and pay dues electronically here (hyperlink to our PayPal page or button) or print out this form and mail, with registration dues, to
KARL Graduate Program
101 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66502
Alumni Roster
Class XI
Class X
Class VIII
Class VII
Class VI
Class V
Class IX
Class IV
Class III
Class II
Class I
 Blake Angell Ellis County: Ellis Cattle Buyer Meyer Natural Angus |
 Dan Atkisson Stockton County: Rooks Rancher/Farmer Atkisson Farms/Atkisson Land and Cattle |
 Amy Bickel Burrton County: Harvey Journalist The Hutchinson News |
 Debra Bolton Garden City County: Finney Extension Specialist KSU-SW Area Office |
 Jarrod Bowser Holton County: Jackson Owner/Operator Bowser Farms |
 Randall Debler Alma County: Wabaunsee Rancher Rock Hill Ranch, Inc. |
 Brandon Depenbusch Great Bend County: Barton General Manager Innovative Livestock Services |
 Tyler Ediger Meade County: Meade Farm Partner / Owner Ediger Farms |
 Tanner Ehmke Healy County: Lane Freelance/Writer/Photographer/Farmer 34 Star Farms |
 Andrea Feldkamp Manhattan County: Riley Extension 4-H Youth Development Riley County Extension |
 Mark Fowler Manhattan County: Riley Associate Director/Flour Milling Specialist for K-State International Grains Program |
 Mandy Fox Ulysses County: Grant Environmental Consultant and Agronomist |
 Natalie Gosch Mulvane County: Sedgwick Facility Manager, Horizon Mills, Cargill, Inc. |
 Hannah Grape Manhattan County: Riley Student /Animal Caretaker KSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital |
 Liesel Grauberger Concordia County: Cloud Account Manager Pioneer Hi-Bred International |
 Kris Graves Bartlett County: Labette Rancher/Farmer Graves Land & Cattle, Graves Equipment |
 Aaron Harries Manhattan County: Riley Director of Marketing Kansas Wheat Commission |
 Kelsey Holste Manhattan County: Riley Program Coordinator Syngenta |
 Mike Irvin Manhattan County: Riley Attorney/Director of Legal Foundation Kansas Farm Bureau |
 Tricia Jantz Newton County: Harvey Controller Team Marketing Alliance |
 Todd Jennison Scott City County: Scott Manager Kennedy and Coe |
 Paula Landoll-Smith Marysville County: Marshall Marketing Manager Landoll Corporation |
 Josh Morrill Garnett County: Anderson Commodity Manager East Kansas Agri-Energy LLC |
 Joe Muller Coffeyville County: Labette Operations Supervisor Heavy Equipment Operator Pumpkin Creek Farms Muller Construction |
 Craig Poore Alton County: Osborne Farmer/Rancher CH Poore Farm |
 Jon Schmidt Minneapolis County: Ottawa Farm Assistant David Crosson Farm |
 Reid Shrauner Elkhart Morton County Owner/Operator Reid Shrauner Farm |
 Chris Tanner Norton County: Norton Ag Producer/Contractor Tanner Farms; Tanner Construction |
 Luke Thornton Anthony County: Harper Sales Manager Harper Industries, Inc. |
 Tyler VanWinkle Manhattan County: Riley Risk Management Specialist Innovative Livestock Services |
KARL Current Class XI With Bios
CLASS XI Program Curriculum
