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Contact Title
Noah Washburn
LeadAR Program Director
Phone: 501-671-2284
Email: nwashburn@uada.edu
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204

LeadAR – Re-energized and Ready for Class 18
Arkansas’ leadership program responsible for training hundreds of community leaders and spawning many local programs has announced the members of its 2018 class. LeadAR welcomes 28 participants from 16 Arkansas counties as members of Class 18. These men and women will spend the next two years developing their leadership skills and gaining a better understanding of key economic and social issues facing Arkansas. Since 1984, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has sought to develop rural leaders through the LeadAR program as well as help urban residents grasp the importance of agriculture in the state. Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry, adding more than $21 billion to the state’s economy annually. “The purpose of LeadAR is to enhance these emerging community leaders using the latest research tools to expand their self-awareness, increase motivation, and enrich their communication skills as a leader,” said Noah Washburn, the program’s new director who helped revamp the 34-year-old program to better fit the busy schedules of today’s professionals. Class members will meet some of the state’s top industry leaders, practice their policy-making skills and tour community assets in the state and overseas. The 22-month program features seminars, a visit with congressional leaders in Washington D.C., and an international study tour that exposes class members to different methods of addressing policy and economic issues. The first of eight LeadAR seminars takes place Feb. 7-10, 2018 in Little Rock. This seminar will focus on leader development and will be held at the Holiday Inn Airport Conference Center. In addition to the UA System Division of Agriculture, LeadAR is supported by the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Credit Midsouth, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, many LeadAR alumni, individuals and organizations. Class 18 members will join an engaged alumni group of more than 480 Arkansans who have participated in the program since its inception. LeadAR alumni live in 71 of Arkansas’ 75 counties. |
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Class 18 members are:
To learn more about LeadAR, visit www.uaex.uada.edu/LeadAR. Follow our adventure on Facebook. |