Fellows in the Nebraska LEAD Program Class 44 recently completed their National Study/Travel Seminar, a 10-day immersive experience designed to deepen their understanding of public policy, global markets, leadership, history and the future of food and agriculture.
The seminar, held February 4–13, included visits and briefings in Kansas City, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Moline, Illinois. The experience is a cornerstone of the two-year Nebraska LEAD Program, providing Fellows direct access to national leaders, policymakers, industry executives and cultural institutions.
Throughout the seminar, Class 44 engaged with organizations representing nearly every facet of agriculture and public life — from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the United States Department of Agriculture, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Pork Producers Council and the American Soybean Association.
Fellows also met with members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation and staff, visited foreign embassies including the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. and the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., and toured historic and cultural sites such as Arlington National Cemetery, the White House and Gettysburg National Military Park.
“This seminar brings leadership to life,” said Kurtis Harms, director of the Nebraska LEAD Program. “Classroom discussion is important, but there is no substitute for sitting across the table from decision-makers in Washington, D.C., hearing directly how policy is shaped and implemented, and then connecting that back to Nebraska farms, ranches and rural communities. It challenges our Fellows to think bigger and lead with greater perspective.”
In Kansas City, Fellows explored agricultural innovation and market dynamics, including discussions with economists at the Federal Reserve and sustainability leaders at Dairy Farmers of America. In Washington, D.C., they examined federal regulatory processes, trade policy and farm bill priorities while engaging directly with national commodity groups and congressional leaders.
The seminar also emphasized historical context and civic responsibility. At Gettysburg, Fellows reflected on leadership during pivotal moments in American history.
“The visit to Gettysburg was especially impactful,” said Shane Wohlgemuth, a Class 44 Fellow, farmer and business owner. “Standing where history was made and then coming back to D.C. to discuss modern policy issues really put leadership into perspective. It reminded me that decisions matter — and that strong leadership can change the course of a nation.”
Another Fellow in the class, Erika Coulter, territory manager with Beck’s Hybrids, highlighted the policy-focused conversations in the nation’s capital. “Meeting with national organizations and hearing firsthand how they advocate for producers helped me better understand how Nebraska agriculture fits into the bigger picture. It gave me confidence to be more engaged in policy discussions at home.”
The final leg of the seminar included visits in Chicago and Moline, where Fellows explored food access initiatives at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, urban agricultural education at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, and global manufacturing and innovation at John Deere facilities.
Harms said the breadth of the experience is intentional.
“We want Fellows to see the full food and agriculture system — from production and processing to policy, trade and consumer engagement,” he said. “This seminar stretches them geographically and intellectually. When they return to Nebraska, they bring back not just knowledge, but relationships, perspective and a renewed commitment to serve.”
Nebraska LEAD 44 Fellows (by hometown) that participated in the National Study/Travel Seminar are:
AINSWORTH: Katie Hespe
ALBION: Jaclyn Frey
AURORA: Amanda Schultz
BASSETT: Erika Coulter
BRIDGEPORT: Alexis Corman
BUTTE: Britanie Brewster
BYRON: Jake Beam
CALLAWAY: Stacey Guthard
CHAMPION: Daniel Hogsett
CLARKS: Tana Pankoke
COLUMBUS: Valerie Bohuslavsky
FUNK: Shane Wohlgemuth
GLENVIL: Kelsey Harms
HEMINGFORD: Colt Foster
HOWELLS: Justin Morton
KEARNEY: Garrett Elfeldt, Chase Hoffschneider, Camille Koehn
LEIGH: Matthew Cross
LINCOLN: Jacob Schlick, Dillon Kuehn, Katelyn Leibhart
MASON CITY: Sarah Zimmer
MERNA: Brandon Miller
NORTH PLATTE: Trey Bahler
OMAHA: Peter Martin
RED CLOUD: Erin Slieter
The Nebraska LEAD Program includes Nebraskans currently active in production agriculture and agribusiness and is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council in cooperation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
For more information, or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 45 which begins in the fall of 2026, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program online at lead.unl.edu. The application deadline is June 15.
