Class spokesperson PJ Haynie III delivers the commencement address
Nov 21, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC – The 2023-25 Rice Leadership Development Class recently completed their two-year program a couple of months early so that their final session could be held in conjunction with the USA Rice Legislative Fly-In in Washington, DC, this week.
On Monday, the group visited the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters and met with staff from several different agencies that fall under the USDA umbrella of departments that are of vital importance to the industry including the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Economic Research Service (ERS), and the World Agricultural Outlook Board.
That afternoon, the class traveled to the USA Rice staff office in Arlington, Virginia, to review the week ahead and discuss the many issues USA Rice is working on for the industry. They later met with staff at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
On Tuesday, the class attended the fly-in briefing session before their formal graduation ceremony where they received diplomas and a special leadership alumni lapel pin.
Class spokesperson, P.J. Haynie III, from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, talked about how he was initially reluctant to agree to riding around in a van with a bunch of strangers, but, after two years together, they’re all now like brothers and sisters. He said theirs was the most diverse class in the program’s history and went on to relate something unique about each of his classmates before thanking the program sponsors and everyone who hosted them during their journey through U.S. rice country. Applying for the program was one of the best decisions Haynie said he ever made and he encouraged anyone considering it to fill out an application asap.
Two members of the 2022-24 Leadership Class, Corey Conner from Lake Arthur, Louisiana, and John McGraw from Star City, Arkansas, who missed their graduation ceremony earlier this year, also received diplomas and pins.
The newly minted graduates then joined their individual home state delegations making visits on Capitol Hill to speak with legislators about the importance of the passage of a new farm bill and share significant concerns that are likely unique to rice that the industry hopes to see included in potential legislation.
In addition to Haynie, class members are Justin Chlapecka from Kennett, Missouri; Matt Hendrick from Houston, Texas; Jared Holzhauer from Gillette, Arkansas; Christi Bland-Miller from Sledge, Mississippi; Charles Payne from Lafayette, Louisiana; and Alexander Struckmeyer from Arbuckle, California.
During their four sessions, they visited rice growing regions in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas where they met rice producers and industry leaders. They also attended several sessions on improving leadership skills.
The Rice Leadership Development Program is sponsored by American Commodity Company, John Deere, RiceTec, and Supreme Rice. The program is open to U.S. rice producers or individuals who work in the rice industry between the ages of 25-45.
The application period will open next July and details will be announced in the USA Rice Daily.