KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Institute for Animal Agriculture is now accepting nominations for the second cohort of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program, according to an announcement from the organization. Nominations are due Nov. 15 by 11:59 p.m.

According to the announcement, the 16-month leadership program blends in-person and virtual working sessions to focus on key areas of leadership development. Members of the program work together on applied learning and small-group capstone projects, which incorporate topics identified by the cohort members.

“The NIAA Leadership Cohort is beyond what I imagined and has been a challenging and rewarding experience,” Inaugural Cohort Participant Madison Simmons Hopcia wrote in the announcement. “NIAA’s cohort is one of the few that lets you plan your experiences and is geared towards what you are interested in growing.”

The United Soybean Board serves as the founding sponsor of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program, with additional financial support provided by Farm Credit, NIAA and its members and partners, said the announcement. With sponsor and participant investments, the leadership program provides an estimated $10,000 in training and resources, as well as NIAA membership during the length of the program. Participant investment for the leadership program is $2,500.

The announcement stated that in 2021, NIAA launched the program to provide emerging leaders a new opportunity to gain next-level leadership and professional development training specifically focused on the animal agriculture segment of the industry. According to the release, the selection process begins with an application or nomination from a sponsoring organization.

The NIAA is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and advocating for animal agriculture. More information about how to nominate an individual for the program or become an applicant is available at www.animalagriculture.org/leadership-program.