A TWENTY FIVE YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF THE NEBRASKA LEAD PROGRAM*

Executive Summary
by Valerie L. Vantreese**
January 2006

In 1981, the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council launched the Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education / Action Development) Program with partial three-year funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Since that time, the Nebraska LEAD Program has provided nearly 700 men and women the opportunity to participate in an intensive two year educational leadership program. In addition, another 60 participants are presently in the program. Since the beginning, the program director and office space have been provided by the University of Nebraska’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources with all operating monies provided by the private sector.

In 2000, and again in 2005, the Council requested another comprehensive evaluation of the Nebraska LEAD Program. The evaluation had two objectives: (1) to provide information that might be used to modify future programming and (2) to evaluate the impact on individuals and on prospective agricultural leaders in Nebraska. Using a 50% sampling rate, with a standard mail-survey methodology, 317 alumni participated in the evaluation. The data sets from both studies were merged, culminating in a 92% response rate from the participants who have now completed the program.

The results of the evaluation reveal that the Nebraska LEAD program has consistently offered 25 years of high quality leadership training. Overall, the Nebraska LEAD alumni rated the quality of the program at 9.6 (out of 10) and nearly 100% of LEAD alumni thought the program was worthwhile in terms of costs and time away from their normal activities. Further, 96% of the participants had no reservations about recommending The Nebraska LEAD Program to other highly qualified individuals who were willing to give their time and make a firm commitment to the program.

As a result of participating in LEAD, more than 85% of the respondents indicated that the program had increased their skills in the areas of: communications, self confidence and human relations. Since completing the program, a majority (over 50 %) of the alumni also cited significant increases in their participation in elective or appointive government offices, as well as increased activity at the local, state and national levels. Almost half of respondents also indicated increased participation in political organizations. Participants had only very, very marginal suggestions for improving the curriculum.

Nearly 1,000 leadership positions have been filled by LEAD alumni
at the local, community, state and national levels.

Nebraska LEAD alumni have leveraged their leadership skills in a variety of ways. Many LEAD alumni work directly with producer and commodity associations as well as state and national organizations. Others serve on various boards, commissions and councils, and work closely with the legislature.

Nebraska LEAD alumni rained accolades upon the program director and staff. Few of us would be so fortunate to leave such a legacy behind.

* A special research project funded by the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, Inc.

** Valerie L. Vantreese is the owner of Askren Research Associates, a private consulting firm based in Lexington, KY. An agricultural economist with the University of Kentucky for over 20 years, Ms. Askren’s role was to serve as a completely independent outside reviewer of the Nebraska LEAD Program. She conducted other similar evaluations as well as the original “A Twenty Year Follow-Up Study of the Nebraska LEAD Program” in 2001.

Last Updated April 4, 2008