DANVILLE, Ind. — The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC), the state’s soybean and corn checkoff programs, will again offer partial tuition scholarships for full-time Indiana soybean and corn farmers who are accepted to participate in the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP).

ISA board member Chris Eck, a farmer from Boggstown, Ind., graduated from ALP Class 17, which ran from 2016-2018.

“Getting a scholarship for the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program was really the first step for me, and it has come full circle because I am now a director on the ISA board,” Eck said. “ALP allows the opportunity for both professional growth and networking with successful people in the agricultural world. The program has also connected me to a group of people who have become my lifelong friends. ISA is proud to invest in future farmer leaders.”

ISA and ICMC will contribute up to $1,000 per full-time corn and soybean farmer accepted into the program. ALP is designed to guide Indiana’s promising leaders to new levels of leadership skill and to a heightened awareness and understanding of the issues facing our industry.

“We encourage as many corn and soybean farmers as possible to participate in ALP,” said ICMC President Tim Gauck, a farmer from Greensburg, Ind. “This program benefits all who work in Indiana agriculture, and it’s programs offer a variety of valuable experiences.”

ALP is administered by AgrIInstitute, Inc. Founded in 1983, this organization has conducted 21 classes, preparing nearly 600 individuals for exceptional service in agricultural communities.

ALP features 12 study seminars designed to broaden understanding in important areas of civic engagement and leadership. Participants broaden their knowledge in a wide range of economic, social, political and cultural matters as well as expand their leadership skills. Ten of the seminars are three days in length and in locations throughout Indiana. In addition, the participants study one week in Washington, D.C., and two weeks in a foreign country.

AgrIInstitute selects up to 30 individuals to participate in the two-year program. Each class represents a diverse group of agricultural and rural community representation. Tuition for this program is $6,000 per person. Applications for the upcoming Class 22 must be submitted with a postmark date of Jan. 19 and can be secured at www.agriinstitute.org/alp.

For additional information, contact ALP Executive Director, Beth Archer, 317-745-0947 or beth@agriinstitute.org or ISA and ICMC Senior Project Marketing Manager Melanie Batalis at 317-614-0378 or mbatalis@indianasoybean.com.