Since 1995, NAAA has offered a Leadership Training Program (LTP) sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection. More than 365 NAAA members have benefited from this training over the course of 28 leadership classes, including NAAA’s 2024 graduates. The program includes training that enables its participants to develop a strong ability to clearly communicate the important role aerial application plays in the production of our country’s agricultural products to the public, media and government. The training also involves teaching managerial philosophy to help the participants in their own businesses and to more effectively serve as a leader while serving industry organizations, such as NAAA and state agricultural aviation associations.

 

 

The February 2025 NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings will take place in Montreal, Canada, which will not allow for Leadership Training Program participants to be trained in visiting with congressional leaders in person on Capitol Hill, which is one of the primary goals of the course. Because of that, NAAA and Syngenta have agreed that the 2025 program participants will attend Syngenta’s larger Leadership At Its Best (LAIB) program February 10-13, 2025. LAIB participants receive the same training that they would receive during the NAAA Leadership Training Program with the added benefit of meeting participants from other commodity groups and ag associations. Due to the size of LAIB, NAAA will only have four seats for the 2025 LAIB program with the plan that Syngenta will provide a larger NAAA-only leadership training program once again in 2026 when our February NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings are located back in Alexandria, VA. 

 

To select the four applicants for the 2025 LAIB program, each state/regional association, plus the Canadian Aerial Applicators Association, may submit one candidate of their choice for possible entry into the program. Since the number of applicants will likely exceed the number of positions available, a selection committee will be formed by the NAAA President to select the four most qualified candidates. 

How to Apply for the Leadership Training Program

1. Industry Involvement – Must be involved in an agricultural aviation business or a related allied industry organization as deemed appropriate by the nominating state/regional AAA. This includes partial or total ownership of at least one agricultural aircraft; and/or a managing employee, stockholder or pilot of an agricultural aviation business; and/or an employee of an Allied Industry member company or State Association.
2. Leadership Involvement – Must have leadership experience developed from past involvement in regional or state industry associations, community service involvement, and/or school or professional organizations.
3. Industry Future – Must indicate intent of future involvement in the aerial application industry.
4. NAAA Membership – Must be a member of the appropriate state/regional agricultural aviation association and NAAA in the applicant’s own right—both in 2024 and 2025. Acceptable NAAA membership categories that a Leadership Training candidate could come from include: Operators, Pilots, Affiliated Operators, Support, International Members (in the case of Canadian AAA), Allied Industry Members and Affiliated Allied Industry Members, and State/Regional Organization Members.  

If you have any questions about the 2025 NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program, please contact Lindsay Barber.