International Rice Leadership Class, Including 3 from Louisiana, Heading South

By Chuck Wilson, USA Rice 

Charley Mathews, chairman of The Rice Foundation

The Rice Leadership Development Program recently selected the 2017 International Rice Leadership class.  To be eligible for the international class, applicants must have completed the traditional two-year Rice Leadership Program and be active members of the rice industry.  

"One very important factor in the selection process is how the Leadership Development alumni have put their leadership training to use in serving the rice industry since graduating," said Charley Mathews, an alumnus of the program and the current chairman of The Rice Foundation, the organization overseeing the Leadership Development Program.  "The number and quality of applicants this year was great and shows the graduates' engagement and commitment to the industry." 

"This year's international session will be held in November in Nicaragua and Colombia, the first is a once large market for us that we would like to see return, and the second a thriving market that is an excellent example of what happens when effective trade policy and promotion converge," said Mathews. 

Class members are: Jonathan Hobbs from Jefferson, LA; Mike Martin from Bernie, MO; Christian Richard from Kaplan, LA; Dr. Tim Walker from Memphis, TN; and Fred Zaunbrecher from Duson, LA. 

The Rice Leadership Development Program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc, and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and is managed by the USA Rice Federation.