Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program Class XXI traveled to Kenya for its two-week international experience in February 2025. (Photo by Mitchell Alcala, OSU Agriculture)

Apply now for Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program Class XXII

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Media Contact: Gail Ellis | Editorial Communications Coordinator | 405-744-9152 | gail.ellis@okstate.edu

Applications are open until May 1 for Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program Class XXII.

A maximum of 30 professionals from across the state in production agriculture, agribusiness or other ag sectors are selected to participate in the 20-month program, which features the following components: 10 three-day seminars and study tours within Oklahoma, one three-day seminar in northern Oklahoma and Kansas, a seven-day seminar in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., and a two-week international experience.

For more than 40 years, OALP has enhanced the knowledge and leadership skills of Oklahomans involved in agriculture. Applicants must be at least 25 years old and are chosen for the program based on their potential to serve as agricultural leaders in the state.

“Experiential learning is a key part of our program,” said Edmond Bonjour, OALP director since 2010. “Participants enjoy increasing their knowledge about agriculture in the state, nationally and internationally, and incorporate what they learn into their operations or businesses.”

The seminar schedule combines hands-on experiences, classroom instruction and tour-based approaches. Topics include leadership, communication, credit, finance, state and national government, water issues and topics specific to certain regions of the state. Many of the seminars focus on experiential learning where participants visit successful and progressive agricultural producers and businesses.

The application, available on the OALP website, and all other supporting materials are due by May 1. Interviews will be held in June; the first seminar series begins in August. Class XXII will graduate in April 2027.

“Each class is unique, and we strive to build a cohesive group to ensure participants can learn by sharing ideas and discussing what they have witnessed during our sessions and tours,” Bonjour said. “We help build leadership skills and capacity of our participants for the betterment of the food and fiber industries.”

For more information about OALP or applying for Class XXII, contact Bonjour at 405-744-8134 or edmond.bonjour@okstate.edu.