The WFBF Leadership Institute is a year-long, premier leadership training course with the mission to develop strong and effective county Farm Bureau leaders.
This program goes beyond personal growth—it focuses on strengthening agricultural leadership, organizational development and county-level success by connecting participants with training, tools and real-world experience they can immediately apply within their local Farm Bureau.
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Leadership Institute Class XVI
Building Agriculture Leaders Who Strengthen County Farm Bureaus
The Leadership Institute prepares participants to take on active roles within their county Farm Bureau by increasing awareness of state programs, leadership strategies and organizational best practices.
Participants get to:
- Develop agricultural leadership skills to strengthen and advance county Farm Bureau operations
- Gain a deeper understanding of WFBF resources and how to apply them locally
- Strengthen communication and public speaking abilities
- Learn how to craft and share an effective agricultural message
- Build confidence working with media and in advocacy settings
- Explore state, national and global agricultural issues
- Engage in the political process at local, state and national levels
- Collaborate with peers to develop creative solutions to county-level challenges
- Create a personalized leadership plan focused on strengthening their county Farm Bureau
Why Participate in the Leadership Institute?
The Leadership Institute is designed for members who want to make a meaningful impact at the county level while growing as leaders within the Farm Bureau network. Through this program, participants not only gain skills—but also learn how to connect state-level knowledge and resources to local success, improving:
- County leadership effectiveness
- Member engagement and recruitment
- Program development and execution
- Communication between county and state organizations
Who can participate in the Leadership Institute?
Any voting member of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau may submit an application to participate in the program. Each class is limited to 15 participants.
Program Expectations
Wisconsin Farm Bureau expects WFBF Leadership Institute graduates to use the leadership skills and abilities they have developed in the program to become actively engaged and involved in their county Farm Bureau.
This includes:
- Taking on active county Farm Bureau leadership roles
- Promoting awareness of WFBF programs, training and resources
- Supporting county organizational development and strategic initiatives
- Strengthening connections between local, state and national Farm Bureau efforts
Many graduates continue to serve as agriculture advocates and leaders within their communities and across Wisconsin.
Scholarship Opportunity
New in 2027! The Mike & Shirley Duerst Institute scholarship program. This scholarship helps expand access to agricultural leadership training by supporting applicants who:
- Are not sponsored by their County Farm Bureau, employer or another organization
- Demonstrate financial need
Selected recipients may receive funding to cover participation fees, making this ag leadership program more accessible to members across the state.
Applications for Leadership Institute
Applications are now closed for the 2027 Leadership Institute class. Applications will reopen in 2028.
