Leadership at its Best

Sponsored by

The Agricultural Retailers Association’s Leadership at Its Best Program (LAIB), sponsored by Syngenta, is designed for emerging branch, marketing and sales managers to improve communication skills with legislators and agency personnel at all levels of government, both federal and state.

The training segments are designed to assist attendees with communicating the agricultural retail industry’s perspective on policy issues to agency leaders and government officials and how to follow up on those meetings and conversations. This training course is designed to hone skills attendees already have and to provide them with confidence in using those skills in fast paced public forums.

Candidates who complete this program will be able to interact with government officials and agencies on all levels. Graduates will be better able to understand and interpret government actions, but also have the tools and contacts to participate in the process. Graduates may be called upon by ARA to represent the industry at hearings or other proceedings.

The program is held in Washington, D.C. in early March and usually consist of 8-10 candidates representing a broad base of ARA retailer membership. The program consists of two and a half days of classroom instruction in the ARA office followed by a half day of Capitol Hill office visits.

Generally all costs associated with the program are covered. This includes hotel accommodations, meals, and D.C. transportation. Candidate’s member companies are
asked to provide transportation to and from Washington, D.C.

Candidate selection begins in late fall. Eligible member companies will be selected first, followed by candidate nominations and approval. If you are interested in attending or have questions, please contact David McKnight at David@aradc.org or (202) 595-1710.

Click here to view the April 2012 Ag Professional story on LAIB.

Click here to view photos from the 2012 class.