Operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and teaching arm of the Division of Agriculture, the 18-month LeadAR program will include two-day seminars in multiple regions of the state. Topics will include infrastructure and public health, natural resources, public policy and media, community and economic development and many more.

“Through the LeadAR program, participants receive a unique, hands-on experience in skill development,” said Julie Robinson, extension professor and LeadAR director for the Division of Agriculture. “They will gain a better understanding of local issues, which helps them see policy impacts at the community, state and national level.”

Robinson said participants can also expect to gain a better understanding of the legislative process and improve their leadership skills with research-proven tools.

Founded in 1984, LeadAR celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. It was originally modeled after the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s leadership training program. LeadAR now has more than 500 hundred alumni serving as leaders in their communities throughout Arkansas, especially in rural and agricultural areas.

Each applicant must be an Arkansas resident and must be 25 years old by the date of the first seminar. As many as 30 participants will be selected for the upcoming class, with a goal of including 50 percent rural residents, 25 percent urban residents and 25 percent agriculture professionals.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 7. The application can be found at uaex.uada.edu/leadar/. The program’s advisory council will conduct interviews in February, and all applicants will be notified of the Class 21 selections by March 7, 2025.  

Local, national and international perspectives

LeadAR Class 21 members will participate in a mock legislative session at the Arkansas State Capitol. They will then travel to Washington, D.C. in September 2025 for a week-long tour, where they will meet with officials representing government agencies, nonprofits and industry. They will also meet with the Arkansas congressional delegation and aides to discuss issues in their own communities.

The program culminates in September 2026 with an international study tour, during which participants will study political dynamics and how global issues impact Arkansas. Since its founding, LeadAR class members have visited 34 countries, including Morocco, Portugal, Greece, Bolivia, Canada, Australia and Vietnam, among others.

LeadAR participants will also work on a leadership service project throughout the program, focusing on creating positive change in their communities. Past projects have included building a local library and developing the annual Goat Festival in Perryville, Arkansas.

The LeadAR alumni network includes farmers, educators, state legislators, city council members, school board members and more. LeadAR is supported by program alumni, corporate donors, foundations and the Division of Agriculture. The cost to participants is $3,500, which covers seminar expenses, most lodging, meals and travel expenses. Class members are encouraged to seek tuition support from outside sources, such as their employer, and scholarships are available to help participants with payment.

To learn more about LeadAR and to apply, visit uaex.uada.edu/leadar or contact Julie Robinson, LeadAR director, or Lisa Davis, program coordinator, by emailing [email protected].

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. 

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.  

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.