Justification
Agriculture in South Dakota is affected by changing consumer preferences, environmental regulations, national agricultural and monetary policies and international markets. If South Dakotans are to maintain a voice in policy decisions, both public and private, they must be prepared with broad-based knowledge and leadership skills to participate in the local, state, national and international discussions. Though the arena in which agriculture operates is vast and complex, the population base from which it draws its leadership is diminishing.

Vision
To ensure that the South Dakota rural and agricultural communities can keep pace with the rate of change, it is imperative that we continue to supply informed, decisive, communicative spokespersons to represent our industry and communities, keeping the public factually informed, as policies are constructed and decisions are made. To address these needs, SDARL provides an intensive study and training experience for future agricultural leaders of South Dakota. 

Class Structure / Seminars
Each SDARL class is composed of approximately 30 individuals who are actively involved in production ag or in agribusiness. Class VI was selected from 54 applicants and announced in May 2010. Applications for Class VII will be taken during the first quarter of 2012 with a class start date of November 2012.

Class members are required to attend all seminars, complete pre-seminar reading assignments, participate in informal question and answer periods, evaluate seminars and report highlights ot the media, civic groups, and/or community organizations.

The SDARL program consists of 12 seminars over an 18-month period. Ten of the seminars are 3-4 day in-state seminars held at a variety of locations across South Dakota beginning in November 2010 and ending in March 2012. The national seminar is a week-long study/travel seminar to Washington, DC in February of the first year. The international travel seminar is a 10-12 day study seminar held typically in February of the second year, just prior to graduation. Class I visited New Zealand/Australia; Class II went to the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. Brazil and Argentina were the destination for Class III with Class IV spending time in China. Class V spent their seminar in South Africa in February 2010 and Class VI will be going to China in February 2012.

The cost of the SDARL program now exceeds $400,000 per class for the two-year program. Participants are responsible for approximately one quarter of the actual costs incurred on their behalf. Foundation, organization, corporate and individual contributions are utilized to provide the balance of funding for each student, of which the SDARL office is responsible for securing.