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 January 6–20, 2026, immersed participants 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, a Nebraska LEAD Class 43 Fellow. “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 Nebraska LEAD 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 Luke Baldridge, a Fellow in Class 43. “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, 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 Lily Ziehmer, Nebraska LEAD 43 Fellow. “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.
Nebraska LEAD 43 Fellows by hometown that traveled to Morocco, Portugal and Spain 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 CITY: 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 (https://mediahub.unl.edu/channels/28041).
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.
