The Holstein Foundation is delighted to reintroduce the Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) after a year hiatus with a new location and refreshed agenda. Applications for YDLI Class 12 are due August 1, 2021 and can be found at www.holsteinfoundation.org.
YDLI is the cornerstone program of the Holstein Foundation. The nationally recognized leadership and communication skills development program is open to young adults ages 22 to 45 working in the dairy industry.
After postponing YDLI for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holstein Foundation created a task force to evaluate all aspects the program as if they were starting with a blank state. The minor but relevant changes made to YDLI ensure it will remain a top-notch dairy leadership program long into the future. Several core components that have made YDLI a success for the past 25 years will remain.
“This next class of YDLI could be the best one yet. If you’re even thinking about applying for this class, you should,” said Josh Hushon, Holstein Foundation board of trustees chairman. “Over the past year, we’ve revamped the curriculum to better prepare the future leaders of the dairy industry. This next group will be the first to benefit from that work and I am confident they will.”
YDLI's three-phase approach will reflect updates to the course content and schedule. Phase I is the first face to face meeting February 15-18, 2022. Phase II is a series of self-driven projects completed in the participants’ home communities. Phase III is a second in-person meeting one year later, February 14-17, 2023. YDLI Class 12 will also have a new location in Fort Worth, Texas, meeting at a hotel in the heart of the famed Stockyards area.
The Phase I and III will focus heavily on interpersonal communication skills, and topics like team culture, influence, enabling change, and embracing diversity. Phase II will be individually customized with projects and timeline to achieve personal goals and include virtual meetings and reports. Phase III builds on the skills learned over the first two phases and is planned to include a hard-hitting hot industry topics session.
YDLI seeks to attract the brightest and most engaged young adults in the industry and boasts over 600 alumni since the program’s inception in 1993. By October 1, top tier applicants will be selected for the class from across North America, diverse in their backgrounds and roles within the industry. English-speaking international applicants are considered.
If selected as a YDLI class member, participants will need to invest the time required to complete projects. Class members pay a registration fee, and their travel and hotel costs. Some scholarships are available for full-time dairy producers that apply. The majority of the program is funded by the Holstein Foundation, thanks to several generous sponsors. To learn more about costs or sponsorship opportunities, as well as find the YDLI application, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org. With questions, contact Jodi Hoynoski at jhoynoski@holstein.com.
