TO ENSURE THE SOUTH DAKOTA RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY CAN KEEP PACE WITH THE RATE OF CHANGE, IT IS IMPERATIVE WE SUPPLY INFORMED, DECISIVE, COMMUNICATIVE SPOKESPERSONS TO REPRESENT OUR INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITIES, KEEPING THE PUBLIC FACTUALLY INFORMED, AS POLICIES ARE FORMED AND DECISIONS ARE MADE. TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS, SDARL PROVIDES AN INTENSIVE STUDY AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURAL LEADERS OF SOUTH DAKOTA. THE SDARL PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 11 SEMINARS OVER AN 18-MONTH PERIOD. NINE OF THE SEMINARS ARE 3-4 DAY IN STATE SEMINARS HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SOUTH DAKOTA. SDARL ALSO PROVIDES ADVANCED LEADERSHIP EDUCATION TO PROGRAM ALUMNI AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR FFA, COMMODITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT BOARDS.