NAAA Leadership Programs Prepare Industry Advocates in Washington, DC

The NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program (LTP) and its sibling program, Leadership At Its Best (LAIB), have been shaping strong leaders in agricultural aviation since 1995. An intensive five-day course was held recently in the Washington, DC area, equipping participants with the skills to effectively communicate the positive role aerial application plays in agriculture to the public, media, and government officials.

This year’s LAIB participants were Thomas Wolf (LA) and Matthew AufderHeide (AR). The twelve LTP participants included Emilio Carvalho (CA), Zach Edwards (MS), Clifford Lakey (NE), Walter Meise (WA), Lilly Paxton (SD), Doug Pralle (IA), Markus Seitter (Manitoba, Canada), Matthew Stevens (MI), Amanda Timmer (IA), Kyle Turner (TX), Seth Venable (TX), and Clay Waldrip (TX).

In addition to media training and learning leadership skills, the LTP cohorts spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying on important ag aviation issues, including ensuring government protections for manned aircraft from unmanned aircraft operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS); and reforms to pesticide law easing unnecessary legal and bureaucratic burdens of pesticide applicators. Syngenta personnel noted they were highly impressed with the NAAA participants and their potential to shape the future of leadership in aerial application and agriculture. Congratulations to all the participants for stepping forward to lead and ensuring the voices of agricultural aviators are heard in the nation’s capital and beyond.

LTP and LAIB continue to play vital roles in shaping the next generation of agricultural leaders, ensuring that the voices of growers and agribusiness professionals are heard and respected worldwide. More than 400 individuals have completed this program over the past 30 years helping shape the future of agricultural aviation leadership.