Rice Leadership Class Explores Marketing, Research, Production and Conservation in Mid-South

STUTTGART, AR, July 12, 2006 — The 2006 Rice Leadership Development Program class members began their second session June 25 with a weeklong, firsthand look at rice production, marketing and conservation programs. The group spent three days in Arkansas and two days in Illinois.

The session began in England and Lonoke, AR, where alumni Bill McNeil and Dow Brantley arranged for the class to observe production practices, precision land leveling and conservation practices.

Rice-producer class members are Jeremy Baltz of Arkansas, Henry Kalfsbeek of California, Buck Leonards and Ross Hebert of Louisiana, Bubba Simmons of Mississippi, and industry-related members are Dr. Andy Kendig of Missouri and Brian King of Arkansas.

The class attended personal development workshops on media communications and business etiquette. “Media training is vital to help prepare class members to be able to provide interviewers with solid information that will make a good story and get key points across,” Rice Foundation Director Chuck Wilson said.

In Arkansas, the class visited Producers Rice Mill, Riceland Foods, Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, and the University of Arkansas Rice Research & Extension Center. At these stops the class learned about rice marketing, toured a parboil plant and observed the latest advances in rice research.

Class members then flew to Moline, IL, where they met with John Deere executives and observed combine manufacturing at Harvester Works.

The session ended at the Chicago Board of Trade where the class observed rice trading on the floor and learned how to use the board as a marketing tool.

The class will meet September 2007 in California to examine rice issues and observe harvesting in that state. The final session and graduation will be held February 2008 in Washington, D.C.

John Deere Co. and Syngenta Crop Protection Inc. sponsor the Rice Leadership Development Program through a grant to The Rice Foundation, and the USA Rice Federation administers the program.

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A caption and high-resolution photo is available at the USA Rice image libary

CONTACT: Chuck Wilson, (870) 673-7541, cwilson@usarice.com

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.