CALLAWAY, Neb. – Participants in the prestigious Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) Program departed February 3 on their National Study/Travel Seminar, an immersive educational experience designed to expand their understanding of agriculture, public policy, leadership, and global issues shaping rural communities.
Three of the 2025 Nebraska LEAD Program Fellows – Class 44 are from the KCNI/KBBN listening area: Stacey Guthard of Callaway, Sarah Zimmer of Mason City, and Brandon Miller of Merna.
The National Study and Travel Seminar is designed to equip participants with the broader national context necessary to guide and influence agriculture, policy, and rural development at home.
This year’s seminar will take LEAD Fellows through several major U.S. cities. The itinerary for the LEAD fellows includes a visit to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, meetings at the 4-H Clover Capital in Washington, D.C., industry site visits & urban agriculture discussion in Chicago, and a tour of the John Deere Factory in Moline, IL.
Throughout the journey, participants will meet with agricultural leaders, policymakers, industry innovators, and community organizations. The LEAD National Study/Travel Seminar provides firsthand exposure to national decision‑making processes, agribusiness operations, and cultural perspectives that impact Nebraska’s rural economy, including in communities close to home.
