YDLI Day 4: Understanding the Public Policy Process, and Our Final Fiesta!

The final morning session for YDLI Class 8 was led by YDLI alum Bonnie Burr, walking the class down the trail of the public policy process. Burr covered the general structure of our government, and shared her real-life experience with lobbying for various agricultural issues. After the foundation was laid, each group was given an actual bill that had come before a state legislature, and tasked with deciding their position and preparing how they would lobby for that position in front of elected officials.

Every class member participated in a mock hearing, where they presented their positions on each bill to a group of "state legislators," with hopes of influencing their opinions. Participants were empowered to realize the impact they can have on the state and national governance process, and all finished with a better understanding of how to represent agriculture's best interests on the legislative stage.

At lunch, the Holstein Foundation staff was pleased to honor retiring Advisory Committee member Denise Skidmore, who has been a part of the YDLI program for several years, being a Class 2 graduate herself.

Holstein Foundation Programs Manager Jodi Hoynoski with
outgoing YDLI Advisory Committee member Denise Skidmore

At the conclusion of the remaining YDLIers' Phase 2 reports was the closing session led by Ty Bennett, where he talked about "The Power of Influence."  Ty shared strategies that everyone in the room could use to become a more effective leader - someone that others are excited to be associated with and want to follow. Some of the key take-home messages included:

• "Leadership is not about you...it's about the people that you lead."
• "Do what you said you would do, when you said you would do it, the way you said you would do it."
• "Invest in your people."
• "Focus on being interested, not interesting."
• "Practice the 'Platinum Rule': Treat others the way they want to be treated."

Closing speaker Ty Bennett

After ending the formal training on a high note, with all participants receive their graduation plaques, the group headed out to one of Albuquerque's most established Mexican resturant's, Sadie's, for a competitive chile cook-off, and delicious buffet to round out the evening. We certainly look forward to seeing what the group will be able to accomplish in the coming years with the skills they have learned and put into practice over the past twelve months. 

The Holstein Foundation and Young Dairy Leaders Institute participants would like to sincerely thank the many gracious sponsors who made the experience possible. Platinum sponsors include Allflex USA, Inc.; DairyBusinesss Communications; Dean Foods Foundation; Farm Credit System Foundation; Hoard’s Dairyman; and Land O’Lakes, Inc. Foundation. Gold-level sponsors were AFACT, Cargill Animal Nutrition, CHS Foundation, Dairy Management, Inc.; Elanco; Holstein Association USA; Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation; and Zoetis. Silver sponsors were Accelerated Genetics; Center for Dairy Excellence; GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.; and Merck. Bronze-level sponsors included Chobani; Church & Dwight Co., Inc.; COBA/Select Sires; Cooperative Resources International; Farm Credit Northeast Ag Enhancement; Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.; Robert L. Cain Memorial Fund; and Select Sires Canada, Inc.

To learn more about Young Dairy Leaders Institute, or to obtain an application for Class 9, which will be held in February 2015 and 2016 in Phoenix, Ariz., visit the official YDLI page on the Holstein Foundation web site! Class 9 applications are due August 1, 2014.