|
|
Legislators honor KARL president
Kansas Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership President Jack Lindquist received honors from the Kansas House of Representatives for his work in developing agricultural leadership across Kansas. He was recognized in a ceremony Jan. 19 in the House Chamber. His name was submitted for the record by state Rep. Don Schroeder, R-Hesston. Schroeder is a graduate of KARL Class I. Lindquist has served as president and program leader of KARL since 1990. Prior to joining the KARL staff, he worked as an agriculture Extension agent in Douglas County, Kan., and as a 4-H agent in Dickinson County, Kan. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural education at Kansas State University and is a graduate of the Indiana University Center of Philanthropy Fund Raising School and Essentials of Management Training Program, as well as the Kansas Health Foundation Master Facilitators Program. KARL (www.karlprogram.com) is a nonprofit, educational organization focused on developing leaders for agriculture, business and rural communities. The program is a two-year course that offers study, training and travel for future leaders in Kansas agriculture and rural communities. Each class is composed of up to 30 individuals who participate in nine in-state seminars, one "Blue Chip" seminar, a national study tour to Washington, D.C., and an international study tour to one or more countries. Since its inception and including the current class, 330 Kansans from 98 of Kansas' 105 counties have participated in the program. Many have gone on to local, regional or national leadership roles, including Steve Baccus, the current president of Kansas Farm Bureau, who is also on the American Farm Bureau Board. Also with Kansas Farm Bureau is Vice President Rich Felts and State Director Jerry McReynolds. KARL graduates John Thaemert and McReynolds have both served as president of the National Association of Wheat Growers; Bob Haselwood currently serves as treasurer of the American Soybean Association; Ron Suppes has been chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates; and three KARL graduates--Larry Jones, Mark Smith and David Cross--have served as president of the Kansas Livestock Association. KARL alum Dana Peterson is now the chief executive officer of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Two chairman of No-Till on the Plains--Doug Palen and Josh Lloyd--are KARL alumni, as are three presidents of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers--Thaemert, McReynolds and Kendall Hodgson. KARL graduate Gary Harshberger has served as chair of the Kansas Water Authority and Dennis Metz is a past chair of the Kansas Dairy Commission. "There are many more KARL graduates who are in key leadership roles," Lindquist said, "plus scores of commissioners on county and city governments, hospital board members, Extension council members and others." Even as he guides future leaders, Lindquist is charting the KARL program's course for the future. "One of my life mentors, the late John Baldwin, president of Dillon Stores once told me, 'A true leader plans his own succession,'" Lindquist said. "We hired Marisa Larson last March to learn about the management of the program through the current class (XI). This transition will allow me to assume duties in 2013 as the new graduate program director. KARL's new advanced level of lifelong leadership development will officially launch in May of 2013." "The program works well for Kansas commodity organizations, commissions and companies have been utilizing the program for executive level development.," Lindquist said. "They endorse the KARL program through partnership investments because of its ability to supplement their leadership pool with graduates who have been trained to deal with issues from rural development through international trade. Virtually all of the organizations have had KARL graduates on their boards and in top leadership roles."
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2012. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
