MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc. is soliciting the names and addresses of interested leaders in the agricultural and rural networks for KARL Class XI application.

The KARL Program is a two-year educational experience offering intensive study, training and travel for emerging leaders in agriculture and rural communities. Since 1991, 300 people from 98 Kansas counties have participated in the program. The mission of KARL, Inc. is to provide first-class leadership development for agricultural and rural stakeholders by designing and offering challenging and illuminating education and enrichment programs as well as a forum for continuous engagement, according to Jack Lindquist, president and program director of KARL, Inc., with headquarters on the Kansas State University (KSU) campus.

The application period for the 11th class of 30 participants will run from Jan.1-April 15, 2011. The training begins with an orientation event in June, team building seminar in August and winter seminars in November. Over the two-year period, nine in-state seminars are held throughout Kansas and a national study seminar in Washington, D.C., U.S. Year two features a visit to a Fortune 500 company to study best practices in corporate strategic management. The program culminates with a two-week international study tour. Graduation takes place in April of 2013.

The KARL Program is funded entirely by donations. A tuition fee of $1,500 for each of the two years or $3,000 total is payable by the accepted class finalists. The staff and board, with support from alumni raise $13,000 per participant as a fellowship to cover the costs of the seminars including all room board and transportation.

"We created that growing network of support to ensure that KARL drew and trained the best emerging leaders, not just people that could afford the $16,000 per person-valued executive level training experience," Lindquist said. "We can design a class to suit the state’s needs with a broad mix of expertise and an age range generally from 25-55 years. This class profile shaping allows the group to learn from each other nearly as much as they do from the curriculum. The strength of that network of associates and lifelong friendships created is exactly what this state and nation needs to solve problems today."

Applicants chosen for the KARL Program must pass a five-phase selection process:

1) Express interest in applying or be nominated;

2) Complete a detailed applicant profile form;

3) Pass an initial screening by KARL's board of directors;

4) Be one of 45 candidates interviewed in May; and

5) Be named to the class of 30 by the board around June 1.

More information is available by contacting the KARL office, 101 Umberger Hall, Manhattan, Kansas, U.S. 66506, 1.785.532.6300 or e-mail: