GUELPH – On July 12, the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) announced 20 current and emerging leaders from across the province selected to be a part of Class 20 of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP). Participants are starting their AALP journey this month.
Class members are livestock, horticulture, cannabis, grain, and oilseed producers and/or involved in agri-business and agri-food, financial sectors, non-government and commodity associations and small business. The class ranges in age from 25 to 48.
From Wellington, Lora Bender was selected for the AALP Class 20. Bender is a progressive dairy managing editor and associate publisher.
“AALP consistently develops leaders, making them better prepared to identify and overcome challenges and to capitalize on emerging opportunities across the agriculture, agri-food and rural sectors,” ROI board chair Dan Borowec said.
Each AALP class is chosen with attention to the diversity of participants so that peer-to-peer mentorship, interrelationships, and a broad network are developed.
“Class participants will learn from each other, offering unique viewpoints and enabling thought-provoking, balanced discussion of critical issues and new ideas about the future of the agri-food industry,” leadership programs director Gabrielle Ferguson said.
Throughout the experimental program, AALP participants will come together for in-person seminars, online webinars, study tours and small group issues analysis projects for agriculture, food, and rural community clients.
The program’s focus is on building foundational skills and providing the context for practicing them in a safe but challenging environment.
AALP is delivered by ROI, a non-profit organization committed to developing leaders and facilitating collaboration on issues and opportunities facing rural and northern Ontario communities.
