Members of the 2022/24 Rice Leadership Development Program class include, seated from left, Rice Foundation Board Chair David Petter, and program sponsors Brian Ottis of RiceTec, and Nicole Van Vleck and Chris Crutchfield of ACC. Class members standing from left are Peter Rystrom of Chico California; John McGraw of Star City, Arkansas; Julie Richard of Kaplan; Adam McCalister of Woodland, California;, and Conner Popeck (not pictured: Daniel Cavazos of Wellington, Florida; and Corey Conner of Lake Arthur. Not shown is Conner Popeck of Gueydan.
2022 - 2024 Rice Leadership Development Program class named
Members of the 2022/24 Rice Leadership Development Program class were announced during the annual Rice Awards Luncheon at the 2021 USA Rice Outlook Conference.
The class is comprised of seven rice industry professionals selected by a committee of agribusiness leaders and includes three from the Acadiana area.
“This is an outstanding group that displays exceptional leadership potential. They are also diverse, both in background and geographically,” said Rice Foundation Director Steve Linscombe.
The new rice-producer class members are Conner Popeck of Gueydan; Julie Richard of Kaplan; Daniel Cavazos of Wellington, Florida; John McGraw of Star City, Arkansas; and Peter Rystrom of Chico, California.
The new industry-related class members are Corey Conner of Lake Arthur, and Adam McCalister of Woodland, California.
The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training.
During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.