The two-year KARL Program, which includes state, national and international study seminars and tours, begins next August.
Eligibility is based on leadership experience and a devotion to the future of Kansas agriculture and rural communities, according to president and program director Jack Lindquist.
"A dedication to a more positive future is key to selection," Lindquist said.
Current class members and alumni agree that the 52-day commitment over a two-year period of time is not only well worth the investment, but needed in today's competitive and changing environment, he said.
Applicants must complete a profile form that will be reviewed by KARL's board of directors. An on-line application is available at www.karlprogram.com, or interested persons may request an application by calling the KARL office at (785) 532-6300.
Applicants will undergo a screening process to select up to 45 candidates, who will then be invited to a location in their home regions for a personal interview in May, Lindquist said. New class members will be named in June.
This is the eleventh KARL class since the program's inception in 1990. Each class consists of up to 30 individuals. The tuition fee for participants is $1,500 per year, or a total of $3,000. KARL donors pay the remainder of the $17,000 cost per person.
Seminars and tours are generally balanced during production agriculture's "off-season" from November through March, including the national, Blue Chip and international study tours, Lindquist said. The monthly in-state seminars typically are held over a 48-hour period.
