Class 40
The Washington Agriculture and Education Foundation (AgForestry) is recognized as the premier leadership development program in Washington State. AgForestry cultivates leaders in agriculture, forestry, fishing and related industries who communicate, collaborate, inspire and serve.
The program addresses issues that impact natural resources and our society at large. It presents hands-on learning experiences that allow participants to achieve an advanced level of leadership. Over 18 months, 11 leadership seminars are presented throughout Washington on topics including: communications; group dynamics; public speaking; working with media; influencing public policy and working with the state government; and key policy issues impacting forestry, agriculture, the Columbia River System, social services, the criminal justice system, and transportation. The program also features one week in Washington D.C. learning about the federal government and a two-week seminar on international trade, culture and government in a selected foreign country. Through our leadership seminars we enhance leadership skills, present multiple perspectives on issues, and explore the economic, environmental and human impacts of public policy decisions.
Class 40 launched their leadership journey October 2017.
Few things touch our lives more in Washington State than our natural resource industries. The individuals who successfully complete our program impact and enrich lives and communities in Washington State and throughout the world with leading edge solutions for challenges faced by agriculture, forestry and natural resources.
Leadership Class 40
| Area | Participant | Business | Position | Town |
| 1 | Jason Alves | Washington Dept. of Veteran Affairs | Program Manager Veterans Conservation Corps. | Olympia |
| 1 | Evan Bauder | Mason Conservation District | Habitat Program Manager | Shelton |
| 6 | Tyler Broetje | Broetje Orchards | Communications Coordinator | Richland |
| 4 | Jaki Brophy | Washington Hop Commission | Communications Director | Moxee |
| 5 | Randy Burke | Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources | Landowner Assistance Forester | Elk |
| 6 | Annie Byerley | 5B Farms, Inc. | Secretary, Worker | Walla Walla |
| 6 | Kevin Corliss | Ste. Michelle Wine Estates | Vice President Vineyards | Prosser |
| 6 | Ben Cox | Washington Trust Bank | Relationship Manager, Vice President | Kennewick |
| 4 | Chelsea Durfey Campbell | Natural Selection Farms, Inc. | Project Coordinator | Sunnyside |
| 1 | Erin Ewald | Taylor Shellfish Farms | Asst. Director of Regulatory & Environmental Compliance | Shelton |
| 1 | Kirsten Feifel | Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources | Aquatics Policy Habitat Lead | Olympia |
| 1 | Justin Hall | Nisqually River Foundation | Executive Director | Olympia |
| 4 | Jennifer Hickenbottom | Bureau of Reclamation | Project Manager | Yakima |
| 4 | Paul Jones | Wyeast Timber Services | CEO Member | Hood River |
| 3 | Melody Kreimes | Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board | Executive Director | Wenatchee |
| 1 | Abu Nurullah | Washington Dept. of Natural Resources | Sr. Forest Management Analyst | Lacey |
| 3 | Adam Poush | Northwest Learning & Achievement Group | Site Director | Orondo |
| 6 | Rey Rojas | Empey Orchards, Inc. | General Manager | Mesa |
| 5 | Jacob Ruland | Northwest Farm Credit Services | Project Manager II | Spokane |
| 6 | Brady Stover | Integrity Ag, Inc. | Agronomist | Quincy |
| 1 | Gareth Waugh | Port Blakely - U.S. Forestry | Director of Planning & Acquisitions | Tumwater |
| 6 | Deborah Wieseler | Flying W Farms, Inc. | Office Manager | Mesa |
| 6 | Lindsey Williams | Agriculture Center of Excellence | Marketing & Communications | Walla Walla |
| 2 | Ryan Williams | Snohomish Conservation District | Program Intergration Manager | Marysville |
Photo Brochure
Jason Alves
Evan Bauder
Tyler Broetje
Jaki Brophy
Randy Burke
Annie Byerley
Kevin Corliss
Ben Cox
Chelsea Durfey Campbell
Erin Ewald
Kirsten Feifel
Justin Hall
Jennifer Hickenbottom
Paul Jones
Melody Kreimes
Abu Nurullah
Adam Poush
Rey Rojas
Jacob Ruland
Brady Stover
Gareth Waugh
Debbie Wieseler
Lindsey Williams
Ryan Williams
| 2017 - 2018 | ||||
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PRELIMINARY SEMINAR SCHEDULE Class 40 - Year One This schedule is tentative and subject to change at any time |
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| Location - Sponsor | Dates | Theme | ||
| Pullman WSU |
October 18-20 | Leadership, Communication and Vision | ||
| Wenatchee | November 14-17 | Group Dynamics and Public Speaking | ||
| Spokane Northwest Farm Credit Services |
December 13-15 | Working with the Media | ||
| Tacoma | January 10-12 | Social Issues | ||
| Olympia WA Forest Protection Association |
February 7-9 |
State Government | ||
| National Travel Seminar Washington, D.C. |
February 24 - March 3 |
National Government | ||
|
Colvile |
May 16-18 | Forestry Issues | ||
| 2018 - 2019 | ||||
| Class 40 - Year Two | ||||
| Location - Sponsor | Dates | Theme | ||
| Yakima | September 12-14 | Jack Felgenhauer Agriculture Issues | ||
| Vancouver | October 10-12 | The Columbia River System | ||
| Walla Walla | November 14-16 | Crime and Corrections | ||
| Seattle | December 12-14 | Transportation | ||
| International Study Seminar - Ecuador | January | Trade, Culture and Government | ||
| Graduation Seminar Olympia |
May 1-3 | Public Policy - Graduation | ||