Released: March 13, 2002

Program Stretches Into Unfamiliar Territory

LANSING, Kan. – Dusty Albright was a little out of his comfort zone. The young farmer from south central Kansas is more accustomed to figuring the economics of what crop to plant than he was meeting with prisoners in Lansing or discussing current politics in Russia.

"But that’s what this program is all about – reaching into the unknown – into areas that seem to have little to do with us but, in fact, do affect us," said Jack Lindquist of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership [KARL] Program, now in its 12th year. "We’re training people to be better, more well-informed leaders for our state."

Lindquist has led the program since its inception.

Albright is one of 30 members of the current class now partway through its two-year curriculum. Class members hail from all over the state and include bankers, crop consultants, farmers, corporate marketing representatives, county extension agents and radio and print journalists – all interested in learning how to be better leaders in agriculture and in their communities.

On a recent day in February, he and his classmates gathered in Leavenworth to learn about "Tools for Peace and Progress." The two-day seminar included a trip to Fort Leavenworth where the group heard information ranging from the significance of the Leavenworth War College to how Matthew Nowak, a forester who’s in charge of the fort’s land, is using hardwood trees as an alternative crop.

After a briefing and hands-on simulated battle exercise at the National Simulation Center, the group heard a presentation about the current state of Russia by Lt. Col. (ret.) Timothy Thomas, who is a consultant to the Department of Defense.

A security background check on each KARL class member preceded the group’s visit to the Lansing Correctional Facility the following day. LCF was established in 1864 and currently houses 2,489 male inmates. In addition to the tour, class members had lunch at the prison, and participated in a panel discussion with several inmates, including an enlightening question-and-answer session.

From LCF, the KARL group headed to the Corrections Corporation of America [CCA] – a privately-run Federal Marshall’s facility that houses inmates who are either awaiting trial or awaiting sentencing on federal charges. KARL class members toured the facility and had a panel discussion with five inmates – all with vastly different stories to tell – from a businessman who was convicted on drug charges to a pharmacist who was awaiting sentencing on mail fraud. In the womens’ section, class members were allowed a brief informal visit with several inmates.

What does any of this have to do with leadership training?

"All of these [correctional] facilities run on tax dollars," said Mark Coberly of Gove in the western part of the state. "It’s important for anyone who is a leader in their community to understand how tax dollars are being used – and to understand social problems in the areas around us."

"One of the tour guides at Lansing likened the annual cost of keeping an inmate to the cost of a year at Harvard," Lindquist said. That might prompt some people to believe that prisoners should be locked up and denied access to what may be costly training or rehabilitation programs. But they also need to be aware that 99 percent of all prison inmates at some point will come back to our communities. That might make people think a little differently about how that time is spent while they’re in prison.

"We’re always encouraged to think outside the box. This stuff isn’t even near any box I’ve ever been in," Coberly said.

The parent organization, Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc., (KARL, Inc.), is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to identifying and developing leadership in order to enhance the quality of life for all Kansans.

KARL funding comes entirely from private sources. KARL, Inc., is a 501c3 - charitable, educational organization. To inquire about application or contributions call 785-532-6300 or write to 216 Call Hall, Manhattan KS 66506. The KARL Website, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/karl provides details and highlight photographs of each seminar in the curriculum.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter, Communications Specialist
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News