(06/17/26) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU AgCenter Agricultural Leadership Development Program is now accepting applications for Class XX, which is scheduled to begin in January 2027 with a completion date of February 2029.

“Developing leaders is one of the most important things we can do to move agriculture forward, especially as we navigate finance, policy and regulatory challenges,” said Matt Lee, senior vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture. “The people who come through this program are the ones stepping up across the state to advocate for agriculture and keep this industry strong for Louisiana.”

The program was established in 1988 and helps educate its participants on ways to be a voice for agriculture on local, state and national levels. Bobby Soileau, program director, said class members will be exposed to a variety of critical agricultural issues and strategies that can be used to inform the public about how the issues affect agriculture and the general populace.

“This program gives our participants a broad view of the many issues impacting all of agriculture, forestry and natural resources,” Soileau said. “The knowledge and skills they gain help them to be effective in communicating the benefits and challenges agriculture faces here in Louisiana.”

The curriculum includes 10 seminars: seven lecture-based seminars in various locations across the state and three travel seminars. One of the travel seminars is a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with leaders that shape the nation’s agricultural and trade policies. Participants also will travel to another state to learn about agricultural issues there.

The culmination of the program and last travel seminar is an international study tour. This component is a visit to another country to learn how agricultural, economic and social systems work there. International trips in the past have been to countries in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.

“The international tour is a great way to see how other countries operate, including their agricultural sector,” Soileau said. “It really shows everyone in the program that competition is global.”

People who aspire to have a leadership role in Louisiana agriculture should consider enrolling in this program.

“The Ag Leadership program has been instrumental in developing leaders across all corners of our state,” said Tara Smith, extension director for the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. “Graduates have gone on to be strong advocates not only for agriculture but also for their communities. The individuals that participate benefit and experience their own personal growth.”

Participants are expected to commit to attending all the seminars throughout the two-year program. They will also be expected to pay a small portion of their costs for their studies and travel.

Most of the program is underwritten by endowments and annual giving through the LSU Foundation, including the Chalkley Family Endowment, the H. Rouse Caffey Endowment, the Robert R. Soileau Endowment, Buck and Beth Vandersteen Family and the Ag Leaders of Louisiana Endowment.

To apply, visit www.lsuagcenter.com/agleadership. The application process is now open, and the interview process for being accepted into the program will begin in September.

Bobby Soileau can be reached at bsoileau@agcenter.lsu.edu