August 28, 2002

Developing leadership skills brought nearly 40 corn and soybean growers together last week in Greensboro, NC. Members of the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association were put through their paces sharpening their leadership skills at the Syngenta Crop Protection Leadership Development Program.

Hosted by Syngenta, growers were given a taste of on-camera interviewing, presenting before an audience and developing useful social skills. They were taught how to recognize and communicate with various personality types and given the opportunity to work together throughout the three-day event.

In January, the NCGA growers will visit Washington for part two of the training program, which includes visits to Capitol Hill and working with lobbyists.

Rick Tolman, chief executive officer for National Corn Growers Association, was keynote speaker during the NCGA training session. He emphasized the impact association leaders have on corn's role in agriculture. "Taking an active role in the association is important. We will always need strong leaders," he told the group of 20 corn growers at the meeting. "Leaders in the National Corn Growers Association have an impact on national policy as well as new uses for corn."

Chuck Rumbarger, founder of Association Management Group, Inc., echoed the importance of strong direction in his session on association leadership. Rumbarger emphasized the importance of distinguishing between national and state roles. "When you are at a national meeting you are representing the national association, and you must take your state hat off," he said.

Throughout his session, Rumbarger answered questions from the group regarding their concerns and roles in a leadership position. One of the strengths an association leader must have is being able to "get a group of people going together in the same direction at the same time, especially, a group of individuals who are volunteering their time in the association. After all, you didn't hire them and you can't fire them, but you must make them march in the same direction. Now that takes leadership."

Other leadership trainers included Dan Schwalbe, president of the Schwalbe Group, who offer persuasion skills training; Steve Powell, public relations director for the Bouvier-Kelly Agency, who led in presentation skills training; and Ken Gordon, external communications manager for Syngenta, who instructed the group in media training.