Young dairy farmers and professionals are urged to apply to the Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI). A program of the Holstein Foundation, YDLI is an innovative leadership and communication skills development program that has touched the lives of over 400 young adults since the program’s inception.
The next class, Class 7, will begin in March 2011. Applications can be downloaded from the Holstein Foundation Web site and must be postmarked by August 2, 2010 to be eligible for consideration. The class will meet in Albuquerque, N.M. for Phase I, March 2-5, 2011 and for Phase III, February 29-March 3, 2012.
YDLI is a three-phase program that takes place over thirteen months, and is open to young adults (ages 22-45) with an interest in the dairy industry. The class will meet in Albuquerque, N.M. for Phases I and III, with a series of projects to complete in the months between meetings. The program is designed to be both relevant and edgy, covering the hot topics facing today’s industry.
“YDLI is a program that is all-encompassing,” said Kathryn Walker, Class 6 graduate from Oregon. “It is so much more than learning how to be an advocate for the dairy industry. It taught me how to be a better member of the organizations I belong to and has allowed me to create a national network of colleagues.”
Phase I focuses on individual leadership and personal development. Workshops cover topics such as working with different personality types, developing an understanding of consumer relations and building media communication skills through hands-on practice.
During Phase II, participants complete a series of assignments in their community, which emphasizes the advocacy and outreach skills gained during Phase I.
The final on-site training, Phase III, features sessions on advanced media training, meeting and board skills, influencing public policy and continued advocacy. Throughout the program, an emphasis is placed on communication and networking amongst peers, a benefit that carries on long after a YDLI class is complete.
Source: Holstein Foundation