Orth Will Represent Wisconsin In Partners In Agricultural Leadership Program

Derek Orth, a Grant County Farm Bureau member, has been chosen to participate in the American Farm Bureau’s tenth class of the Partners in Agricultural Leadership honors program along with nine other young leaders. PAL is designed to help agricultural leaders accelerate their leadership abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture.Derek, his wife Charisse farm with his parents on their dairy, Orthridge Jerseys, in Grant County. The couple are proud parents to two young daughters, Zeeva and Jaylee. Derek is a former Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Agriculturist Committee chair, Farm Bureau Leadership Institute graduate and AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Committee member. He currently serves on the Grant County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and as chair of the WFBF Dairy Committee.“I am humbled and honored to have been selected for this opportunity,” Orth said. “I am eager to make new connections while learning and refining skills to make me a stronger advocate for the industry I love – agriculture.”Other members of PAL Class 10 are: Erika Archie, Texas; David Hafner, Florida; James Henderson, Colorado; Beth Hodge, New Hampshire; Jenny Holtermann, California; Sarah Ison, Ohio; Bryan Jones, Florida; Matthew McClanahan, Tennessee; and Kyle Wilson, Utah.“Farm Bureau is equipping young leaders for effective engagement,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The members of the new PAL class are already elite leaders. We look forward to seeing them progress to the highest levels of agricultural advocacy.”To be eligible for the PAL program, applicants must be between the ages of 30 and 45, with demonstrated leadership skills.PAL training involves four learning modules designed to develop specific advocacy skills while exploring components of leadership and its theories and philosophies. The modules build on one another over the two years of the program and include intense, in-person, hands-on training. Graduates emerge with experience and confidence in legislative policy-making, issues management, social media and media relations.The PAL program is sponsored by AFBF, Farm Credit and Bayer Co.