Did you know for the past 5 years I've been working with the Montana Farm Bureau?
They have an excellent leadership development program, unlike any I've ever seen called ACE. It's been my pleasure to deliver communication and leadership related content for their emerging leaders in the program, and I've recently met the newest class, and I'm SUPER impressed!
From MTFB:
The Montana Farm Bureau announces their ACE (Advocate. Communicate. Educate.) Leadership Program class for 2022. The fifth ACE program will empower Farm Bureau members to be confident, effective leaders in their county Farm Bureau and local communities. Advocacy follows leadership and with practiced, ever-evolving leadership skills, participants will be prepared to actively advocate on key industry issues. The three primary objectives include developing leaders, engaging local communities and issues advocacy.
“MFBF is excited to kick off another year of this program with an outstanding class of advocates for Montana agriculture,” said MFBF ACE Program Co-Coordinator, Sue Ann Streufert. “This leadership program strives to build a group of well-informed and well-trained leaders for Farm Bureau and our state’s number-one industry. We are looking forward to a great year ahead of us.”
The first ACE training took place in January in Bozeman and featured a look at Montana Farm Bureau and Montana agriculture, past and present with MFBF Legacies book author Laura Nelson. The group also spent time with Bruce Vincent and Sarah Bohnenkamp. Vincent is best known for his experience in the timber industry and work helping individuals and resource groups revitalize rural America. Bohnenkamp led the group through intensive discussion of their personal leadership skills and what it means to use those skills to identify ways to serve within groups and communities.
The 2022 class includes:
Andee Baker – Park City, Carbon/Stillwater County Farm Bureau – Andee has been active in the Montana State University Collegiate Young Farmers & Ranchers Club and interned with American Farm Bureau in the Summer of 2021. She hopes to glean the ability to convey the purpose of an organization as well as sharpening communication skills to non-agricultural groups.
Zach Coccoli - Helena, Lewis & Clark County Farm Bureau – Zach works as the Montana Department of Agriculture Ag Development Division Administrator. He hopes to further his knowledge and develop new professional relationships to create more effective partnerships for the benefit of ag and rural Montana.
Morgan Kuntz - Dillon, Southwest County Farm Bureau – Morgan splits her time between working on her family’s ranch and writing for the Prairie Star. As an ag journalist, Morgan would like to leave ACE as a better advocate for agriculture, as well as foster new connections and be a more articulate leader.
Lindsay Orem – Wolf Creek, Lewis & Clark County Farm Bureau – Lindsay is the Montana Ag in the Classroom Foundation executive director. She wants to communicate more clearly and build a more effective Ag in the Classroom program.
Canyon Rehbein - Lambert, Richland County Farm Bureau – Canyon works full time on his family’s farm and ranch and serves as the Richland County Farm Bureau president. He hopes to further his leadership skills and knowledge, as well as build membership in his community.
Josh Senecal – Ronan, Northwest Counties Farm Bureau – The Ronan-area rancher is Northwest Counties Farm Bureau president and looks forward to learning how to encourage discussions with people of different viewpoints, as well as learn to speak up for agriculture.
Becky Stuart - Dillon, Southwest Counties Farm Bureau – Becky serves as University of Montana-Western graduation coordinator. She hopes to gain a broader skill set to advocate for and educate audiences on current or upcoming agricultural issues and events with specific regards to media, non-agricultural audiences and educators.
For additional information on the ACE program, visit http://www.mfbf.org or call 406-587-3153.
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