A veteran, but still young, agricultural industry leader and communicator has been selected as the 4th director of the Nebraska LEAD – Leadership Education/Action Development – program.
Kurtis Harms will start June 1st as the successor to Terry Hejny, who is retiring after serving 17 years as director.
The Nebraska LEAD Program was established in 1981 to develop agricultural leaders from the state’s future generations, and is part of UNL’s IANR -Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Both Hejny and Harms are Lead graduates, Harms last year as part of Class 40.
NU Vice President and Vice Chancellor for IANR Mike Boehm says Harms “has spent his entire career advocating for Nebraska agriculture, its future and, most importantly, its people, (and) brings energy, fresh ideas and incredible passion to this position,” adding that he’s confident LEAD will flourish under his leadership.
Harms has been connected to UNL his entire adult life He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2007 and master’s in 2008, then hosted the Nebraska Ag Almanac radio program for 8 years. He was executive producer of the Market Journal TV program for 7 years, an assistant professor for 5 years, and an adjunct professor for the last 7 years.
Harms was director of communications for the Nebraska Corn Board from 2017 to 2022 when he went to work for then-Regent and now Governor Jim Pillen’s family ag corporation as marketing director for both Pillen Family Farms and its DNA Genetics subsidiary.
Harms says LEAD has a very strong foundation and has prepared hundreds of leaders who have held local, county and statewide office with an incredible impact on Nebraska, and he’s excited to continue that legacy.
Harms says he thinks there’s an opportunity to “connect the dots before and after” being in LEAD through partnerships with 4-H, FFA, and similar programs while expanding opportunities for LEAD graduates to stay involved and engaged.
By the way, the Nebraska LEAD Program is currently accepting applications for its 43rd class with June 15th the application deadline. To learn more about Nebraska LEAD or to apply, go online to LEAD.unl.edu.