I think LeadAR helped me understand the difference between "dogmatic" and "persuasive." Originally, I felt if I could make my point, I could overrule other ideas, which I could, but with limited success. LeadAR helped me learn how to provide folks with an opportunity to be involved with or committed to the same goals. I often use the "Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz" analogy, because Dorothy needed the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, but there also had to be something in their journey for them. LeadAR helped me to understand how implementing that concept can lead to effective results. I keep the foursome on my desk as a daily reminder.

Debbie Moreland
Class 5 - Roland
Program Administrator
Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts

Early on in my life I had committed to making a difference in the world in which I live. I found myself associating with like-minded persons and thought that I had a pretty good handle on the path that lay ahead. Then I was given the opportunity to become involved with the LeadAR experience. I met persons from diverse walks of life throughout our state. Persons with different backgrounds, philosophies and yes, even diametric politics. These strangers soon became friends as we traveled through the LeadAR program. We acquired new skills together, allowing us to jointly focus on the needs of the people of our State and to envision solutions. We were given new tools that enabled our quests. I can say with pride and with thanks that my LeadAR experience has allowed be to be a part of improving our communities and our state.

Ben Blankenship
Class 5
Fire Chief
City of Benton

LeadAR came at the right time for me. I had hit a wall after ten years in secondary teaching and needed something to re-energize my career. LeadAR motivated me and got me back on track to achieve greater things. It changed the way I look at the world. It made me challenge myself. It opened a whole realm of resources and people I still consult to this day. It changed the way I teach my civics classes. I have added components to my classes on topics I learned at LeadAR seminars and tours, such as technology. It made my teaching more effective about world events, since I had seen conditions in other countries that were much different than those I saw in my own country. I am now teaching more about comparative world governments in my classes. LeadAR helped me become a better public speaker. I am more confident in front of a group. The ropes course was such an effective team building event that in my role as a coach I have since taken 20–30 different school sports teams through it at the 4-H Center. LeadAR had so many impacts on my life and career that I cannot adequately describe it all.

Joe Hobbs
Class 5 - Malvern
Lakeside Middle School Coach/Civics teacher

LeadAR gave me an understanding of how Arkansas’ natural resources and the industries that use those resources are important to our state’s economy. The program gave me exposure for the first time to critically-important issues for agriculture. I learned how to analyze state and federal policies related to a variety of issues our state was facing at the time. The experience and education has given me the ability to continue doing issues development throughout my career at Winrock International. I’ve worked on a number of issues surrounding the growing immigrant population in Arkansas, issues of bio energy, value-added agriculture, and more recently issues of hunger in Arkansas. I was convinced that after attending The LeadAR national study tour, I would some day organize and conduct a national study tour for executive directors of small non-profits and Mayors of small cities. The dream became a reality 5 years ago when we opened Winrock’s Non-Profit Improvement Program. LeadAR is an educational experience one carries with them through their career.

Annett Pagan
Class 5 - Cabot
Managing Director, U.S. Programs
Winrock International

What the LeadAR Program has meant and still means to me!

Our class had the transition from Tom Riley as our staff person to Dr. Joe Waldrum. This was a wonderful advantage—having both of these talented men.

The LeadAR program provided me a sense of accomplishment that I can only describe as wonderful! Sharing in thirty plus lives that become so much a part of ones self during the two years of the program and those to follow has been a blessing and an education in itself. The U of A Extension Staff as well as the multitude of speakers and trainers that we were exposed to was invaluable and the travel experiences indescribable. Reference files and notes that we obtained remain a part of my “stand-bys”.

The value of the LeadAR experience is priceless and I would not trade it for anything!

Nedra H. Turney
Class 5 - Texarkana
Retired Red Cross Executive