Check-in on the Checkoff: Growing a New Class of Leaders

Nov 13, 2025

By Joe Roberts

Life within agriculture is never idle. There is always plenty of work to be done, whether you work on or off the farm. However, one important aspect everyone in our industry should prioritize is professional development. The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) recognizes the need to continue cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders, which is why we recently announced our Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) Program Class 12 participants.

I-LEAD was created to bring together talented leaders who want to contribute to a better future for Iowa’s communities and the long-term profitability of agriculture in Iowa. Many members of these classes have become strong leaders and spokespeople for not only Iowa agriculture but also Iowa Corn. I am a graduate of I-LEAD Class 10 and can personally attest that the experience and connections helped lead me to where I am today.

Participants in the two-year program develop essential communication and policy skills while enhancing their understanding of both domestic and global aspects of the agriculture supply chain. They engage in both a domestic and an international learning mission and participate in a variety of leadership training sessions throughout the course.

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Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?