Nebraska Dairy Leadership Program

holstein dairy cow looking at you

The Need

This leadership academy will address the unique needs of dairy leaders through custom training and coaching to provide and build leadership skills for young dairy producers.  There will be in-depth, interactive workshops to address the real world challenges faced by leaders today with training topics identified to help refine leadership skills and build business acumen. Leadership coaching, held between leadership sessions, is designed to support the specific leadership goals of each individual while developing a leadership skill set. This program applies to dairy farm leaders, upper management and employees of all levels. We also strongly encourage spouses to participate in this program.   

The Plan

This leadership academy will focus on eight areas.

  • Goal setting

  • Coaching for performance improvement
  • Managing operational costs
  • Creating strategic plans
  • Employee recruitment and retention
  • Managing conflict
  • Evaluating financial statements
  • Cultural development

Participants in the Leadership Academy will convene to focus on one leadership topic for one day.  At the end of the day, participants and their spouse will enjoy an evening activity or social. 

In addition to the in-person sessions, participants will be divided into coaching groups.  Coaching groups will “meet” online between face-to-face sessions.  The objective with coaching groups is to hold each other accountable, discuss the leadership topics, and learn from fellow producers how they are implementing new ideas on the farm. 

Outcomes

  • Producers will increase their leadership skills and abilities for utilization both on and off the farm
  • Dairy producers will expand their network of connections with fellow dairy producers
  • Dairy producers will build a team culture on the farm to improve employee retention
  • Dairy producers will have an increased knowledge of finances and budgeting for financial planning, sustainability, profitability
  • Dairy producers will utilize their leadership skills to serve on organizations including dairy checkoff organizations

Who Should Attend?

Dairy owners, managers, herdsmen, spouses

We highly encourage anyone in a leadership role on the farm to attend.  Spouses are also encouraged to attend to expand and grow their network of fellow dairy producers and spouses.  We believe part of building leadership is engaging the spouses and providing time for networking with peers and others.

This program will be capped at 25 next generation dairy leaders to provide a hands-on learning experience.  

Cost

The cost is $300 for the first person from the farm and $250 for each person from the same farm.  The registration fee includes all leadership sessions and is due at the first session.  Registration includes materials, meals and social events for each leadership session. 

Registration

To register, contact Kim Clark at 402-472-6065, email KimClark@unl.edu or register at this link.  https://go.unl.edu/leadershipacademy

For additional information and questions, please contact Kim Clark at kimclark@unl.edu or 402-472-6065.

 We look forward to seeing you. 

Agenda

Timeline

Below is a schedule of leadership topics, dates and locations.    

Date

Leadership Topic

Location

Notes

December 11, 2019

Creating a Vision & Goal Setting

Nebraska Cattlemen Office,

4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln

11:00 am-4:00 pm;

 

Beverages and dinner at a local brewery will follow

February 24, 2020

Farm Finances: reading balance sheets, creating budgets, making purchasing decisions, employee pay

Platte County Extension Office, Columbus

NSDA Annual Convention is the following day – February 25

May 2020

Cultural Competency

Omaha

Golf outing in the evening

July 2020

Employee Retention and Recruiting

Kansas City

Team building activity and Kansas City Royals Baseball game

September 2020

Coaching for Performance

Lincoln

Husker tailgate social

November 2020

Managing Conflict, the Culture Code, Understanding Checkoffs, and Graduation

Sioux City, IA

Hockey game social

 

Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors
Overseer 

alltech logo           Automated Dairy logo        nebrsaka state dairy association logo

Dignity

balchem logo

Influencer

dcc waterbeds logo             nebraska corn board logo