Fellows in Nebraska LEAD Program Class 43 recently returned from a two-week international study/travel seminar that took them to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, offering an in-depth look at global agriculture, food systems, water management and leadership across diverse cultures.
The seminar, held Jan. 6-20, immersed the students in hands-on learning experiences with farmers, agribusiness leaders, researchers and policymakers. The program emphasized how agriculture adapts to different climates, markets and political structures — while reinforcing the universal role of leadership in shaping food systems worldwide.
“Seeing agriculture firsthand in different parts of the world changes how you think,” said Jared Stauffer, one of the participating fellows. “Whether it was citrus farming in the Moroccan desert or multigenerational cork farming in Portugal, it reinforced how innovative producers have to be — and how much we can learn from one another.”
“International study is a cornerstone of the Nebraska LEAD Program,” said Kurtis Harms, director of the program. “This seminar challenged our fellows to think beyond borders, understand agriculture in a global context and bring those lessons home to strengthen Nebraska’s agricultural industry.”
While in Morocco, fellows examined farming in arid climates, toured citrus and olive operations and met with agricultural researchers at the National Institute for Agricultural Research. Visits highlighted water scarcity, irrigation innovation and sustainable production practices in North Africa.
“One of the biggest takeaways for me was water management,” said fellow Luke Baldridge. “Water looks very different in Nebraska than it does in Morocco or Spain, but the importance of managing it wisely is universal.”
In Portugal, the group explored large-scale crop and livestock operations, cork production, dairy farming and the Alqueva Multipurpose Project — Europe’s largest strategic water reserve — gaining insight into irrigation, renewable energy and long-term resource planning.
The seminar concluded in Spain, where fellows studied cooperative grain and citrus systems, olive oil production, fisheries and beef cattle operations and met with officials from Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to learn about agricultural policy and livestock management.
“What stood out to me was how closely agriculture and policy are linked in every country we visited,” said fellow Lily Ziehmer. “Those conversations gave me a better appreciation for leadership at every level — from the farm to the ministry office.”
Throughout the experience, participants also engaged in cultural tours and group reflections designed to strengthen leadership skills, broaden perspectives and foster collaboration among Fellows.
The participating Nebraska LEAD 43 fellows by hometown were:
- Callaway: Lucy Kimball
- Carleton: Troy Kane
- Denton: Payton Schaneman
- Edison: Amy Warner
- Ericson: Neleigh Gehl
- Fremont: Chandler Maly
- Gothenburg: McKinley Harm
- Gretna: Brennan Costello
- Hastings: Lily Ziehmer
- Hay Springs: Austin Weyers
- Howells: Tyler Morton
- Humphrey: Eric Wemhoff
- Kearney: Anthony Finke, Dustin Rohde, Trevor Spath
- Lincoln: Luke Baldridge, Sally Welsh
- Long Pine: Spencer Shifflet
- Loup: Cale Harrington
- Milford: Jared Stauffer
- Minatare: Austin Kniss
- Mullen: Kyle Phillips
- Nehawka: Sophia Svanda
- Norfolk: Jake Judge, Courtney Nelson
- Ord: Ben Edwards
- Osceola: Anthony Mestl
- Superior: John Sullivan
- Wahoo: Jacobi Swanson
- Wayne: Bobby Reifenrath
Nebraska LEAD Class 43 produced a video series documenting their travels. This content can be found on the Nebraska LEAD Program’s Facebook page. Additionally, the videos can be accessed on UNL’s MediaHub.
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. The application deadline is June 15.
