WHARTON COUNTY & KATY, TEXAS – The 2023/25 Class of the Rice Leadership Development Program got underway last month and the first stops were in Texas and Louisiana. The Rice Stuff co-host Lesley Dixon embedded herself with the class for the Texas itinerary and shares her experiences on Episode 67, available now.
From media training and farm visits to the newest equipment and cutting-edge technology, this latest class, representing the future of the industry, had a whirlwind kickoff to their two-year journey.
“I think I learned more about rice in three days than I had in all the years I’ve worked here,” said Dixon. “And it wasn’t just me – several class members remarked that what they were seeing in Texas was completely new to them and their part of the country.”
The class visited the farm of Rice Foundation Chair and program alumni Tim Gertson where his approach to water management was new to some. They also went to the laboratories of program co-sponsor RiceTec and Douget’s Rice Mill.
Dixon interviewed class members PJ Haynie from Arkansas, Christi Bland-Miller from Mississippi, and Charles Payne from Louisiana about their biggest takeaways from the first few days, and they weren’t shy about sharing what they learned.
“I also sat in on the media training session that is so important for these developing industry leaders, and I picked up more than a few pointers,” Dixon said.
Dixon shares audio from the trip and her own thoughts about the importance and value of the program.
The Rice Leadership Development Program is sponsored by generous grants from John Deere Company, RiceTec, and American Commodity Company and is administered by The Rice Foundation.
New episodes of The Rice Stuff are published on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and online at www.thericestuffpodcast.com.