Seminar Overview

At IALF, we believe that leadership is not a one-dimensional skill, it’s a lifelong pursuit built through intentional development, reflection, and action.

Our IALF Leadership Competency Model serves as the foundation for the program experience and guides every seminar, speaker, and assignment.

Core Experiences

Each IALF Fellow participates in a set of signature experiences designed to apply and reinforce our leadership competencies across the full program journey:

Leadership Development

Personal Leadership Philosophy
Working Genius Assessment & Debrief
Group Reading & Discussion: Closing the Trust Gap

Applied Learning

Competency-Aligned Group Project
Graduation Presentation & Capstone Deliverable
Seminar-Based Reflections & Blogs
Immersive National and International Seminar Experiences

Connection & Community

Mentoring & Alumni Engagement
Fellow Forums (Peer-Led Conversations)
Networking with Industry Leaders & Stakeholders

Evaluation & Feedback

Pre- and Post-Program Self-Assessments
Employer Check-In (3–6 Months Post-Graduation)

Building Leaders.
One Experience at a Time.

The IALF program is anchored by a series of immersive seminars that explore leadership through the lens of agriculture, business, government, communication, and global affairs.

Over the course of 19 months, participants engage in hands-on experiences, thought-provoking dialogue, and real-world exposure to the complex forces shaping agriculture today—and tomorrow.

Real-World Learning in Real-Time

Our seminars go far beyond the classroom. Participants gain direct access to:

State and federal legislators

Top agribusiness leaders

Media professionals

International diplomats

Nonprofit and rural development experts

The Experience

From Illinois to Washington, D.C. to international destinations, each seminar is crafted to challenge perspectives, build relationships, and prepare participants for lifelong leadership.

Seminar Schedule-Class of 2027

2025

1. Welcome to the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation Program, Class of 2027

August 1: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Virtual Class Kickoff | Location: Zoom

2. Joyce Watson Leadership Orientation Seminar

August 21-22: Start at 10:00 am, End by 8:00 pm

Orientation & Torch of Leadership Event |

Location: Bloomington/Normal

3. 1:1 Coaching Session with Working Genius

September: 30-45 minutes | Location: Virtual-You will choose your date

4. Meet Your Mentor (Optional)

October: 30 minutes-1 hour | Location: You can choose to meet virtually or in-person

5. Communication Excellence Seminar, Supported by Nutrien

November 19-21 | Location: Southern Illinois, Carbondale

6. Closing the Trust Gap Debrief

December 11: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm |

Location: Virtual session with Cory Scheer

2026

7. Kim Morton Agricultural Policy Seminar

January 14-15 | Location: Champaign – College of ACES at U of I

8. The Maschhoffs, LLC State Government Seminar**

February 18-19 | Location: Springfield

9. National Study Seminar

March 8-13 | Location: Washington, DC

10. AI in Agriculture and Communication Seminar

April 16: 12:00-1:00 pm

Location: Virtual

2026

11. Martin L. Andreas Energy, Sustainability, Ecosystems Seminar

Supported by the Lumpkin Foundation

May 6-8 | Location: Southern IL – Metro St. Louis area

12. Farm Credit Illinois Innovation & Technology Seminar

June 24-26 | Location: Chicago

*No sessions in July*

13. GROWMARK Global Challenges Seminar

August 19-20 | Location: St. Louis & Surrounding Area

14. Whole Health & Resilient Leadership Seminar

Supported by Compeer Financial

September 10: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm | Location: Virtual

15. Mentor Check In (Optional)

October | Location: You can choose to meet virtually or in-person

16. Business Decision-Making Seminar

November 23-24 | Location: Evanston – Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University

*No sessions in December*

2027

17. Richard Ryan Economics and the Marketplace Seminar

January 20-21 | Location: Chicago – Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago

18. Ron and Melanie Warfield International Perspectives Seminar

February 10-11 | Location: Champaign

19. International Study Seminar

February 27 – March 10** | Location: TBA

20. Graduation & Commencement Seminar