2023-2024: Class 7 Application

Greetings Applicant!

Oregon’s Resource Education and Agricultural Leadership program (REAL Oregon) is receiving applications for Class 7! This is a personal and professional development program designed for leaders working in our Natural Resource industries. A dynamic curriculum is delivered over five sessions across our state – the REAL Oregon program committee aims to select a diverse group of leaders in order to bring value to discussion and networking.

Class 7 Program Dates

* Session locations may change. Confirmed locations will be announced with candidate selection.

Session 1        November 6th – 9th, 2023                  Klamath Falls              3 nights

Session 2        December 12th – 14th, 2023              Roseburg                    2 nights

Session 3        January 9th – 10th, 2024                     Newport                      2 nights

Session 4        February 6th – 8th, 2024                     Ontario                        2 nights

Session 5        March 11th -14th, 2024                      Salem/PDX                 3 nights

* Contingency Dates – set aside in the event of session cancellation due to weather

                        April 9th – 11th, 2024                          TBD                             2 nights           

 

REAL Oregon aims to create a stronger network of leaders across Oregon’s diverse regions and resource industries; including forests, fisheries, farmland and ranches. This program strives to bring these groups, along with others in related fields, together to provide a wide-ranging curriculum that touches on topics such as Oregon’s forest practices, land use, leading effective meetings, conflict resolution, public speaking, succession planning, and more! While the program is not intended to be a political forum, natural resource policies and issues are a central focus of most sessions.

The successful applicant is willing to learn, ask questions, and experience new things. As an example, tours may include active timber operations, onion or potato packing sheds, seafood processing plants, etc. Some tours may not seem directly connected to natural resources but offer other unique leadership experiences.

We invite you to apply now and consider taking part in REAL Oregon Class 7! The application deadline is July 31st, 2023 though we highly recommend not waiting until the last minute. If you have questions, you can contact our Program Coordinator, Lauren Lucht at lauren@downtoearthoregon.com or (503) 710-7001. More information is also available on the website or social media.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Brent Klumph                        Lauren Lucht
Board Chair                           Program Coordinator

Program Mission

Grow Natural Resource Leaders who make a difference for Oregon!

The REAL Oregon Leadership Program is designed to bring professionals working within Oregon’s natural resource industries together during five sessions to engage in professional development, networking, and to develop greater understanding of the issues impacting Oregon’s abundant resources. Participants will spend 3 to 4 days in each community learning from presenters, connecting over meals, and experiencing local operations during tours. The program is designed to bring leaders of diverse backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, and professions together in order to build a more robust learning environment and facilitate connections between people with a shared passion for protecting Oregon’s natural resources. 

Program Objectives

  1. Improve personal leadership skills, enhance self-confidence, and develop agriculture and natural resource awareness.
  2. Encourage a network of leaders to take an active leadership role in community, state and national issues.
  3. Promote Oregon’s Natural Resources and the development of strong rural communities.
  4. Build a network of informed, trained, and motivated leaders across Oregon.

Program Requirements

  1. Participants are required to attend ALL FIVE (5) SESSIONS. Each session is 3-4 days in length. Graduation is contingent upon completion of ALL FIVE (5) SESSIONS.
  2. A pre-selection interview may be conducted after the initial application is received.
  3. Applicants will be considered on individual merit. Preference may be given to individuals directly involved in production agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
  4. Spouses, siblings, and other relatives are encouraged to apply for separate classes.

Tuition Payment

Minimum tuition cost to participate in this 5-session program is $2,500. Lodging and travel are the responsibility of the participant. The full cost of delivering this comprehensive professional development and networking program is more than $6,000 for coordination, facilities, meals and logistics. In order to keep REAL Oregon accessible to as many natural resource professionals as possible, please consider becoming a REAL Oregon Program Sponsor at $6,000 which includes tuition for one participant.

The Program Committee is dedicated to keeping REAL Oregon accessible to all our natural resource professionals—owner/operators, producers and corporate employees. If tuition cost is a barrier to your participation, please reach out to the Program Coordinator to discuss. We are happy to assist connecting you with a sponsor.

Please be prepared to provide billing payment instructions with your application. REAL Oregon recognizes the numerous families, businesses and agencies that support participation in this program. Each supporter will be recognized as a Participant Sponsor in REAL Oregon promotions and programming.

Invoices will be sent October 25th, prior to the beginning of the first session. Arrangements can be made to pay an invoice by credit card. Please contact the Program Coordinator, Lauren Lucht, for more information. 

Application Components

The application for Class 7 is available as an online fillable form. If you would prefer to submit a written version, please contact Lauren directly to request a fillable pdf. Please review the list below of the information required so that you are prepared to complete all of the fields in the fillable form.

  1. General Contact Information
  2. Description of connection to Natural Resources
  3. Employment History – 3 most current
  4. Education – Degrees, Certifications, License, Training, Etc.
  5. 2 Letters of Recommendation – Upload as attachment – May not be a REAL Oregon Board Member
  6. 3 Professional References – Must include phone number to contact.
  7. List of Leadership Experience – May be uploaded as a separate attachment.
  8. 500 Word Essay – Explaining why you want to be selected – Upload as attachment
  9. Sponsor Information – Name(s) of who will pay the tuition, including billing address.

Submit Your Application

When you have gathered all of the documents you will need to complete the application (see list above), please click on APPLY NOW. If the link is broken, please cut and paste the following URL into your browser: https://airtable.com/shr5oHM5fqHfbssM2