Leadership Program – NIAA website

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The Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders has launched a matching funds campaign.

Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders

Our Program

The Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders is a program developed by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) to empower animal agriculture leaders to positively affect the future of animal agriculture in the U.S. and around the world.

NIAA, with guidance from its members and stakeholders, designed this world-class leadership and experiential learning program to ensure today’s leaders fully appreciate the depth and breadth of animal agriculture and its role in today’s food system.

Learn More About Cohort 1

Curriculum

Leaders selected for the program will grow and develop through experiential learning and participating in an engaging, dynamic curriculum. The program provides participants – leaders from the entire value chain – the advanced skills necessary to lead animal agriculture into the future.

In addition to the curriculum components above, cohort members will be assigned a group capstone project(s) to work on throughout the 16-month Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program, utilizing the expertise and areas of interest of sponsors and funders as the foundation for the project(s). The project(s) will serve as an applied learning experience for participants to put their learned skills into action, ending the program with sharing project outcomes in a final presentation at NIAA Annual Conference.

Qualifications

Candidates must demonstrate leadership in the agriculture industry and be committed to advancing animal agriculture’s role in today’s food system. Applicants must also have a track record of leadership in local, regional or national organizations and/or their place of employment.

Expectations

Accepted candidates are expected to actively participate in every session of the 16-month program. The five in-person seminars are approximately three days each. Virtual meetings or webinars (1-2 hours each) will be held between in-person sessions for additional programming and capstone project work time.

Investment

The value of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program is estimated be over $10,000 per participant. Due to the support from members and partners, participants’ investment for the program is $2,500. Investment for employees of NIAA Gold and Platinum partners selected for the program is complementary. Room, board, and transportation during each seminar are covered. Cost of transportation to and from each seminar is the responsibility of the participant as are incidental expenses.

Cohort 2 Timeline

February 2023
First in-person seminar (Kansas City, MO)
April 2023
Second in-person seminar at NIAA Annual Conference (Kansas City, MO)
August 2023
Third in-person seminar (TBD)
November 2023
Fourth in-person seminar (TBD
April 2024
Final in-person seminar at NIAA Annual Conference (Kansas City, MO)

Cohort 1

Rebecca Barnett, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Tera Barnhardt, Animal Welfare Consulting & Research, LLC
Pierce Bennett, Livestock Marketing Association
Kaitlyn Briggs, Dairy Management, Inc.
Ryan Goodman, Beef Runner
Todd Hanten, Hanten’s Dairy, Inc.
Katherine Harrison, Harrison Farms
Michelle Hiscocks, Iowa State University Department of Animal Science
Madison Hopcia, Upstate Niagara Cooperative
Josh Luth, Innovation Center for US Dairy
Karaline Mayer, Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Eric Moore, Norbrook, Inc.
Alaina Sill, Seaboard Foods
Hayley Springer, Pennsylvania State University
Reginald Strickland, Strickland Farming Group

Learn More About Cohort 1

Testimonials

I’ve truly enjoyed this advanced leadership program and learning and growing with other people who are passionate about animal agriculture, just like I am, all from a variety of different backgrounds. One of my favorite parts about the cohort program is the critical thinking, the pushing beyond our comfort zone, and the skill-building journey that we’re all on together and we’ve co-created with J.J. and Emily. It’s been incredible to both develop as professionals and help with progress in the animal agriculture industry.
Kaitlyn Briggs

Kaitlyn Briggs, DVM, MBA

The NIAA Leadership Cohort is beyond what I imagined and has been a challenging and rewarding experience. You are able to plan your own experiences, have unique opportunities, network and travel. I have loved meeting likeminded individuals from all different sectors of animal agriculture, networking, learning together and helping each other along the way. Travelling to different areas of the country to see the various perspectives and practices of agriculture has been really enjoyable. NIAA’s cohort is one of the few that lets you plan your experiences and is geared towards what you are interested in growing in and highly recommend participating if you are looking to grow in your profession and in your understanding of agriculture.

Madison Simmons HopciaUpstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.
Animal Well-Being Specialist

I’m a veterinarian in southwest Kansas. As a highly driven professional, I really appreciate the opportunity to come together with my cohort in the NIAA leadership class, so that I can be with like-minded, highly driven professionals in animal agriculture and learn from their experiences from around the country and their experiences with different workplaces and different expertise. I highly recommend this leadership cohort if you’re looking for leadership development in that space.
Tera Barnhardt

Tera Barnhardt, DVMConsulting Veterinarian

Part of NIAA’s mission is to foster collaboration and cooperation throughout the industry. This program was intentionally developed to build upon existing leadership experiences, so professionals advance their leadership and, specifically, collaboration skills. It was important to me to participate in the inaugural cohort and it has been an enriching experience for me and my fellow leaders.

Eric Moore, DVMNorbrook, Inc.
NIAA Board Chairman

Application Process

Contact Emily Lehning at leadership@animalagriculture.org if you are interested in applying for the program and being connected with a nominating organization.