March 29, 2024

Prairie City’s Sitzmann named to Iowa Corn Growers’ Association I-LEAD Team

Vince Sitzmann, Chief of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Field Services Bureau and Prairie City resident, was recently named to the 2012 Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement And Development class, which consists of current farmers, agribusiness and governmental emerging leaders from across the state.

The 2012 I-LEAD class, the sixth class since the program began in 2002, met for the first time at the Iowa Corn office on Nov. 8 and 9.

“The number of highly qualified applicants was outstanding,” said Bob Hemesath, an ICGA farmer director and chair of the committee that oversees the program, in a press release.  “This class represents the top future leaders that exist here in Iowa and I am looking forward to being a part of their two-year leadership adventure.”

The Iowa Corn I-LEAD program was developed and is sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) in recognition that the future of Iowa agriculture depends on developing leaders who have a passion for agriculture.

The goal of the two-year program is to provide Iowa’s talented men and women with the tools they need to succeed as leaders and spokespeople. The first session included leadership style learning and team building. Other session will include commodity information, a domestic agricultural mission and policy information.

More than 100 leaders have graduated from the I-LEAD program and many have gone onto leadership roles within the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board or other community or commodity organizations.