Corn, soybean checkoffs to offer farmer scholarships for Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program

DANVILLE, Ind. (Nov. 26, 2025) — The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council(ICMC), the state’s soybean and corn checkoff programs, will again offer partial tuition scholarships for full-time Indiana soybean and corn farmers who are accepted to participate in the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP).

ISA board member Chris Eck, a farmer from Boggstown, Ind., graduated from ALP Class 17, which ran from 2016-2018.

“Getting a scholarship for the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program was really the first step for me, and it has come full circle because I am now a director on the ISA board,” Eck said. “ALP allows the opportunity for both professional growth and networking with successful people in the agricultural world. The program has also connected me to a group of people who have become my lifelong friends. ISA is proud to invest in future farmer leaders.”

ISA and ICMC will contribute up to $1,000 per full-time corn and soybean farmer accepted into the program. ALP is designed to guide Indiana’s promising leaders to new levels of leadership skill and to a heightened awareness and understanding of the issues facing our industry.

“We encourage as many corn and soybean farmers as possible to participate in ALP,” said ICMC President Tim Gauck, a farmer from Greensburg, Ind. “This program benefits all who work in Indiana agriculture, and it’s programs offer a variety of valuable experiences.”

ALP is administered by AgrIInstitute, Inc. Founded in 1983, this organization has conducted 21 classes, preparing nearly 600 individuals for exceptional service in agricultural communities throughout Indiana, the United States and abroad.

ALP features 12 study seminars designed to broaden understanding in important areas of civic engagement and leadership. Participants broaden their knowledge in a wide range of economic, social, political and cultural matters as well as expand their leadership skills. Ten of the seminars are three days in length and in locations throughout Indiana. In addition, the participants study one week in Washington, D.C., and two weeks in a foreign country.

AgrIInstitute selects up to 30 individuals to participate in the two-year program. Each class represents a diverse group of agricultural and rural community representation. Tuition for this program is $6,000 per person. Applications for the upcoming Class 22 must be submitted with a postmark date of Jan. 19, 2026, and can be secured at www.agriinstitute.org/alp.

For additional information, contact ALP Executive Director, Beth Archer, 317-745-0947 or beth@agriinstitute.org or ISA and ICMC Senior Project Marketing Manager Melanie Batalis at 317-614-0378 or mbatalis@indianasoybean.com.

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About AgrIInstitute: AgrIInstitute is a leadership development and people-capacity building organization that facilitates a robust network of agricultural and rural leaders in Indiana. AgrIInstitute provides a fertile environment for cultivating leaders to serve agriculture and rural communities. Learn more at www.agriinstitute.org

About Indiana Soybean Alliance: The Indiana Soybean Alliance works to enhance the viability of Indiana soybean farmers through the effective and efficient investment of soybean checkoff funds that protect and promote the interest of Indiana soybean farmers. The ISA works to assist soybean farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement. ISA is led by an elected, farmer board that directs investments of the soybean checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana soybean farmers. Learn more at www.incornandsoy.org

About Indiana Corn Marketing Council: The Indiana Corn Marketing Council was established by the Indiana General Assembly to promote the interests of corn growers in the state and to manage corn checkoff funds. The Council is composed of 17 voting directors who guide investments of corn checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana corn farmers. The ICMC works to assist corn farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement. Learn more at www.incornandsoy.org

This communication was funded with Indiana corn and soybean checkoff dollars.