Rayne resident among Rice Leadership class members

The seven members of the 26th Rice Leadership Development Class were announced during the USA Rice Outlook Conference annual luncheon here this last week. The program is an intensive two-year study of all aspects of the rice industry and includes media training and leadership development.
Rice Foundation Chairman Todd Burich praised all the applicants for the extremely competitive program and asked rice industry representatives to encourage finalists to reapply next year.
"The rice industry enjoys strong leadership, and has a bright future," Burch said. "This program plays a critical role thanks to the high caliber participants, their dedication to our industry, and the training they receive."
The new class includes producers Nicole Creason of Jonesboro AR; Hudgens Jeter of Stuttgart AR; Paul Johnson of Welsh LA; Nat McKnight of Cleveland MS; and Greg Van Dyke of Pleasant Grove CA. Industry related members are Dustin Harrell of Rayne, LA, with the LSU AgCenter; and Collin Holzhauer of Harrisburg AR, with Southern Rice & Cotton.
Candidates for the program must be between 25 and 45 years of age at the time of application and derive their primary livelihood from some aspect of the rice industry. Over the next two years, class members will attend four one-week sessions designed to strengthen their leadership skills and enhance their understanding of every aspect of the rice industry. Rice Leadership Alumni are currently serving in key positions on many industry boards and committees.
John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company sponsor the Rice Leadership Development Program through a grant to the Rice Foundation. The USA Rice Federation administers the program.