Local candidates selected for AgForestry Leadership Program

Brian Baumann and Dennis Swinger, Jr., have been selected to participate in Class 38 of the AgForestry Leadership Program. The class is the premier leadership development program for those who work in the natural resource industries and related services in Washington state.

Baumann is the President/Director of IT for BMB Farm Inc./DRJ Farm in Washtucna. Swinger is the Vice President for Franz Farms LTD in Lind.

As members of AgForestry Leadership Class 38, they will attend seminars and study local, state, national and international public policy issues and how they relate. The participants will develop critical thinking and communication skills, promote collaboration, and consider issues in the legislative decision-making process.

The 18-month program that began in the fall consists of 12 in-state seminars, a seminar in Washington, D.C., and a two-week seminar in a foreign country.

The leadership program provides participants the proficiency they need to increase awareness and demand for natural resource commodities, and drive industry growth and economic vitality.

Class participants are selected for the program each spring after an application, interview and selection process. The Recruitment and Selection committees strive to ensure each class has diverse representation in the natural resource industries and related services.

Classes consist of 24 participants from each area of the state. The value of each Fellowship Seat is $21,000 with $15,000 funded by contributors to the Foundation.

The Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation is primarily supported by private donors and is guided by its mission to advance the natural resource industries through enhanced understanding, education and empowerment of future leaders.

The 18-month leadership program consists of 14 comprehensive seminars on topics important to Washington state’s natural resource industries and rural communities.

Participants enrich skills and expand knowledge in the areas of communication, legislative processes and issue management.