Rich Crow, assistant professor of applied agricultural and food studies, recently was one of 24 individuals across the state selected to participate in Class 8 of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program.

Rich Crow, assistant professor of applied agricultural and food studies at Morningside College, recently was one of 24 individuals across the state selected to participate in Class 8 of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program.

I-LEAD is a two-year program designed to provide Iowa’s talented men and women with the tools they need to succeed as leaders and spokespeople for the agriculture industry. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

“Helping identify and mold new agriculturists continues to be tantamount to our industry’s future success,” said Iowa Corn Promotion Board President Larry Klever, a farmer from Audubon. “These individuals have made agriculture not only part of their occupation, but their passion. I-LEAD ensures we have effective ag leaders serving at all levels of our state commodity boards and organizations.”

Class 8 will meet in a series of 10 sessions over two years to build practical communication and decision-making skills, develop key contacts in Iowa and beyond, and explore the challenges confronting agriculture and rural Iowa. They will attend National Corn Congress, go on a domestic mission and decide as a class if they will go on an international mission.

Crow joined the faculty at Morningside College in the fall of 2014. He has a master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.