LeadNY is a two-year leadership program for professionals in the food, agriculture, and natural resource sectors across New York State. It is a competitive program that will be celebrating its 40th year in 2025. With over 500 alumni, LeadNY is an established program across New York State’s agricultural industry. Fellows meet in person once monthly for a multi-day seminar throughout the programming year (typically seven months out of each year). Professionals that take part in the program are delegated as LeadNY “fellows”. Year One focuses on self-awareness and skill building, with site agricultural and leadership site visits held across New York State. Year Two focuses on leadership fundamentals, where site visits expand beyond NYS, including the premier programming event: a 10-day study trip to a developing region of the world designed for fellows to experience culture, policy, food systems, and agriculture beyond New York State. Program fees are typically covered by the fellows’ employers and LeadNY donors. Some fellows are self-funded.