Released: November 06, 2006

New Seminar in Store for KARL Class IX

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Members of the next Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program class will have an experience that none of their predecessors had.

“The United States is the home of some of the most aggressive and successful corporate dynamics in the world,” said KARL president Jack Lindquist. “The board of directors of Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc. would like to reflect that dynamic, within the KARL program curriculum, through a new seminar entitled, “Blue Chip.”

In addition to the in-state seminars, the National Study Tour to Washington, D.C., and the International Study Tour, the board will incorporate one national visit for each class, to a blue chip corporation that will expose participants to best practices in research, marketing, distribution, human resource practices and corporate management.

“Our curriculum has always addressed Kansas industry, state and national politics, social issues and international business opportunities,” said curriculum committee member Jim Bassett, Dover. Bassett conceived the idea and notes that potential corporate candidates for this seminar could include, but not be limited to John Deere, Monsanto, Cargill, Citigroup, General Mills, McDonalds, Walmart, and Tyson. “Our objective is to provide class exposure to dynamic corporate leadership, headquarters, research centers, trading offices and manufacturing plants with the latest technology.”

Lindquist, who is also the KARL program director, addressed the increased investment in “Blue Chip” and noted that partial support for the new seminar would be provided by the Barry Flinchbaugh Endowment Fund (earnings).

Flinchbaugh’s interest in exposing the class members to cutting edge speakers and innovative business management approaches fits in well with the executive leadership training course component, Lindquist said.

“To date KARL has had an extremely broad range of occupations represented in each class. Whether the member is a farmer or division marketing manager for a major Kansas company, they each get top level training through the KARL seminars,” Lindquist added. “That leadership enhancement opportunity will be greatly increased with the new seminar.”

More information about application for the Class IX (2007-2009) offering of the KARL Program or to contribute to the not-for-profit organization is available at the Web site http://www.karlprogram.com  or by calling 785-532-6300.

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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:
Jack Lindquist
karl@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News