Rice Leadership Development Program Sessions

Session I - Texas & Louisiana Gulf Coast Rice Areas

Late March or early April 2018
    •   Orientation to industry and organizational structures
    •   River logistics and mid-stream loading facility in Mississippi River
    •   Rice production, milling, research, promotion, and marketing in the Gulf Coast rice-growing areas

Rice Leadership Class at Lake City Reservoir

Session II - Arkansas, Mississippi & Midwest

Late June 2018
    •   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 and visit John Deere World Headquarters

Grading the grader at Producers Rice Mill

From left: Hudgens Jeter, Paul Johnson, Nat McKnight, Nicole Creason, Collin Holzhauer, Greg Van Dyke, Dutin Harrell, and Kevin Ripple with John Deere.

Session III - California

September 2019
    •   Discuss agricultural and environmental issues in California
    •   Rice production, harvesting, milling, marketing and research
    •   Observe various water systems in rice producing areas of California

Rice Leadership Class Observing Harvest in California

2015-17 Rice Leadership Class in California

2014-16 Rice Leadership Class at a California factory tour

Session IV - Washington, DC

February 2020
    •   Discuss industry issues with regulatory and governmental agencies (USDA, FAS, EPA, etc.)
    •   Bipartisan discussions with key legislative contacts
    •   Graduation