Welcome to the Rice Leadership Development Program. The Rice Leadership Development Program is funded by grants from John Deere Company and Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. to The Rice Foundation. The USA Rice Federation develops and manages the program on behalf of The Rice Foundation.

The Program
The Rice Leadership Development Program gives future leaders a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills. The class attends four one-week sessions over a two-year period that encompasses studies of all aspects of the rice industry through firsthand observations. They also attend seminars and workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills. A special committee of rice industry and agribusiness leaders evaluate applications, letters of recommendation, as well as conduct personal interviews to determine the five rice producers and two individuals from rice-industry related professions who will make up the Rice Leadership Development Class.

Session Activities
Session I - Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast Rice Areas (late March or early April 2008)

• Orientation to industry and organizational structures
• Organizational leadership and effectiveness skills
• Rice production, milling, research, promotion, and marketing in the Gulf Coast rice-growing areas.

Session II - Arkansas and Midwest (late June 2008)

• Observe and discuss area rice production, milling, marketing and research
• Improve communication skills - business etiquette, public speaking, media training
• Observe and study the rice futures market at the Chicago Board of Trade

Session III - California (September 2009)

• Discuss agricultural and environmental issues in California
• Rice production, harvesting, milling, marketing and research
• Interactive communication and effective meeting skills training

Session IV - Washington, DC (February 2010)

• Discuss industry issues with regulatory and governmental agencies (USDA, FAS, EPA, OMB, etc.)
• Bipartisan discussions with key legislative contacts
• Graduation

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:

• demonstrate leadership potential
• derive their primary livelihood as rice producers or a rice-industry-related profession/firm.
• be 25 to 45 years old at time of application.
• obtain employer approval prior to applying; if self-employed, agree to devote time away from their operations as required.
• agree to attend all scheduled sessions with exception of illness of participant or immediate family.
• agree to complete all reports and evaluations as required.

Selection Procedure

• Previous applicants are encouraged to reapply for the program.
• The application must be filled out and returned to the Leadership Program Selection Committee, postmarked no later than October 6, 2007.
• The major criteria for selection will be the applicant's leadership experience and potential to serve the U.S. rice industry.
• Two letters of recommendation must accompany applications. Download form here.
• Finalists will be interviewed at the 2007 USA Rice Outlook Conference in Orlando, FL.

Online Application Form and Leadership Brochure
Apply online for the 2008 Rice Leadership Development Program.
Download the 2008 Rice Leadership Development Program Brochure.

Recommendation Forms
Fill out the Online Recommendation Form.
Download the letter of Recommendation Form.

For more information on the Rice Leadership Development Program please contact Chuck Wilson at 870-673-7541 or cwilson@usarice.com