The American Farm Bureau Federation recently honored 10 outstanding leaders in agriculture as graduates of the organization’s 11th Partners in Advocacy Leadership class. PAL was designed to help agricultural leaders accelerate their engagement abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture.

“We commend the PAL graduates for their hard work and commitment to this program, and congratulate them on a job well done,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “We look forward to seeing how their dedication to advocating on agricultural issues will continue to benefit rural communities at the local, state and national level.”

Graduates of PAL Class 11 are: Russ Kohler, Utah; Seth Earl, Michigan; Jason Fellows, Idaho; Laura Haffner, Kansas; Rachel Harmann, Wisconsin; Eileen Jensen, New York;  Heather Lifsey, North Carolina; Ben Menges, Arizona; Megan Richner, Missouri; and Dana Stewart, Arkansas.

PAL training involves four learning modules designed to develop specific advocacy skills, including storytelling, policy development and stakeholder engagement. The modules build on one another over the two years of the program and include intense, in-person, hands-on training.

"While participating in the PAL program, I was pushed way outside my comfort zone," said Kohler said. "This led me to learn and grow by leaps and bounds in a short amount of time. I gained an invaluable network of farmers and agriculture advocates from across the country who care about me and want to push me to succeed in every endeavor."

PAL Class 11 was sponsored by AFBF, Farm Credit and Bayer CropScience.

Applications for PAL Class 12 must be approved by the applicant’s state Farm Bureau president. To be learn more about the program and some of the requirements to see if you might be interested in a future class, click HERE.