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Apply Now for Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation's Next Cohort
- Bob Benenson
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Non-Profit is Targeted to Professionals Seeking Greater Ag Impact
The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation (IALF) provides learning experiences for professionals across the state's agricultural spectrum. And the organization has opened applications for the next cohort of its Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program (IALP).
IALF describes the program as "an advanced leadership development experience designed to cultivate leaders who shape the future of Illinois agriculture." They continue:
The IALP brings together professionals from across production agriculture, agribusiness, education, policy, and rural community development. The program is designed for individuals who demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to service, and a desire to expand their personal and professional impact within Illinois agriculture.
Applications must be submitted by July 20, with the cohort beginning in November.
The full IALF press release is below, followed by a link to access the application for the program.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Applications Now Open for the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program Class of 2028
Applications are now open for the next cohort of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program (IALP), an advanced leadership development experience designed to cultivate leaders who shape the future of Illinois agriculture.
Led by the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation (IALF), the IALP brings together professionals from across production agriculture, agribusiness, education, policy, and rural community development. The program is designed for individuals who demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to service, and a desire to expand their personal and professional impact within Illinois agriculture.
The immersive program blends leadership development, communication, civic engagement, global awareness, and systems thinking to prepare participants to address complex challenges facing agriculture today. Through seminars, experiential learning, and facilitated dialogue, fellows build skills aligned with the IALF Competency Model, including strategic and systems thinking, communication and influence, relationship building and collaboration, civic and global engagement, and food systems sustainability.
“The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program helped me better understand myself as a leader — particularly how my communication, presence, and choices influence others,” said Jacki Langlois (IALP ’18), “Learning alongside people with diverse backgrounds challenged my assumptions and strengthened my ability to lead with empathy, curiosity, and adaptability. The global perspective I gained continues to influence how I lead and invest in people throughout my career.”
Participants attend approximately 42 seminar days, typically meeting every four to six weeks for two to three days per session. Sessions are held across Illinois and include travel to Washington, D.C., as well as an international capstone seminar exploring global agricultural systems, policy, and trade.
Each class can include up to 25 participants, creating a highly selective and engaging cohort experience. Fellows emerge from the program with enhanced leadership capacity, broader professional networks, and deeper insight into the issues shaping agriculture at the local, state, national, and global levels.
The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program is open to individuals ages 25–50 who are actively engaged in agriculture or a related field and who live in Illinois or an adjoining county with a sphere of influence within Illinois agriculture. There is no fee to apply.
More information and application materials are available at agleadership.org/application. Applications must be completed by July 20, 2026. Interviews will be scheduled in August 2026.
The next cohort will formally begin in November 2026.
About the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation
The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation (IALF) is dedicated to developing leaders who strengthen Illinois agriculture and rural communities. Through the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program, IALF cultivates informed, engaged, and forward-thinking leaders equipped to navigate complex challenges and contribute meaningfully to the future of agriculture.
Media Contact:
Jenna Wicks
Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation
Email: jenna@agleadership.org
Phone: 815-992-1710