A program that develops leaders for agriculture, business and rural communities recently celebrated its newest graduates at the same time it announced the next class of participants. The latest program includes participants from Great Bend, Ellinwood, St. John and Russell.
Jill Zimmerman, president of the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership program, said 27 individuals of Class XV celebrated the completion of their advanced leadership development experience during the inaugural KARL Big Event June 4 in Manhattan.
Class XVI, announced the same day, includes 30 Kansans who will start the two-year experience later this year.
“KARL identifies, prepares, and connects aspiring leaders to positively impact Kansas agriculture and rural communities, and is part of the International Association of Program for Agriculture Leadership,” Zimmerman said. “KARL grows leaders who make a difference and go on to lead in agriculture, their businesses, communities and families.”
Since it was first delivered in 1989, more than 450 men and women have participated in KARL and are leaders and active volunteers in the agriculture industry and rural communities.
This is the first time KARL has had a combined event to celebrate the graduate fellows and announce the new class associates. Event speakers included American Countryside producer Andrew McCrea and Senator Jerry Moran.
“On behalf of the board and all alumni of KARL, we offer our sincere congratulations to the Class XV Fellows for their accomplishment and we welcome KARL Class XVI Associates into the program,” said Doug Hofbauer, board chairman of the KARL program. “We look forward to their future work as leaders who make a difference on behalf of agriculture and rural Kansas.”
Each class experiences a two-year curriculum of 52 seminar days across the state of Kansas; a national study tour to Washington, D.C. and to the Gettysburg Leadership Experience at the historic battleground; a domestic study tour; and an international study tour.
Zimmerman said that members of Class XVI will travel to Spain for their international study tour.
The list of KARL Class XV Fellows (graduates), in alphabetical order by last name, includes:
Kim Baldwin, McPherson
J.J. Bebb, Mound Valley
Leland Brown, Lenexa
Allison Burenheide, Kansas City
Darci Cain, Ellis
Stewart Cauble, Liberal
Amy Doane, Downs
Jessica Ebert, Tescott
Karly Frederick, Sterling
Roy Frey, Sabetha
Sean Gatewood, Topeka
Kayla Jarvis, Phillipsburg
Justin Kastner, Manhattan
Leigh Ann Maurath, Oakley
Kyler Millershaski, Lakin
Jesse Muller, Liberty
Jackie Mundt, Preston
Andrew Ochampaugh, Russell
Garrett Reiss, Saint George
Kendra Riley, Dexter
JR Robl, Lenexa
Clay Schemm, Sharon Springs
Anthony Seiler, Wichita
Bob Tempel, Garden City
Debra Teufel, Hutchinson
Shawn Thiele, Manhattan
Beth Weibert, Abilene
The list of KARL Class XVI associates, in alphabetical order by last name, includes:
Luke Amend, Whitewater
Ashley Beying, Waverly
Jamie Boggs, Buhler
Carl Clawson, Plains
Andrea Dietel, Madison
Greg Doering, Manhattan
Ryan Engle, Madison
Travis Graber, Haven
Jacob Harshberger, Dodge City
Sara Hayden, Great Bend
Sarah Henry, Randolph
Megan Hobbs, Newton
Wendy Hughes, Ellinwood
Jeremy Johnson, Pittsburg
Andrea Krauss, Russell
Danielle Kaminski, Hays
Kevin Logan, Hesston
Mary Marsh, Manhattan
Iryna McDonald, Hays
Derick McGhee, Lenexa
Nathan Miller, Benton
Christa Milton, St. John
Lindsey Ott, Overland Park
Mark Palen, Beloit
Nicholas Peters, Goessel
Regan Reif, Great Bend
Jennifer Smith, Lecompton
Eli Svaty, Liberal
Kari West, Girard
Adam York, Manhattan