At The Conference: Beth Archer on Leadership
11/20/2025
Beth Archer has been the Executive Director of the Indiana AgriInstitute (www.agriinstitute.org) for over 30 years. Their main program is the Indiana Ag Leadership Program (ALP) which is a two-year leadership program for adults who are engaged in agriculture and Indiana’s many related industries. The cohorts in this program are selected every two years through an extensive application process to participate. They are required to attend twelve multi-day seminars with a focus on leadership capacities, industry sector awareness and issue study, and civic engagement. Ten of these sessions are in locations around Indiana to increase their awareness of different areas of the state. Additionally, they study for a week in Washington DC and two weeks of international study.
Beth has been recognized by National and International Ag Leadership programs for her service to agriculture, development of ag leaders, women’s leadership programs as well as a host of other accolades.
During her lunch presentation at the ASAC Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana in early November, Beth challenged the attendees to be those who Show Up, Stand Up and Step Into service for agriculture both here and abroad. She stressed that leadership is performed by PEOPLE. “It is people who lead our businesses, it is still people who do the research, it is still people who sell and produce products, it is still people who till the land and care for our animals. It is still people who design and fabricate our tools. It is still people who navigate the policy stew that we need here and abroad to do the business of Agriculture. I say it is “Still People” because as we continue to see the influence and matriculation of AI into our world. It should never be said that Robots or AI replace PEOPLE in leadership service.”
Beth defines leadership as, “The ability to inspire, guide, and influence others toward a common goal.” She emphasized that, “Shaping the leadership needed for today and tomorrow is a sincere concern. Who will lead a team? Who is ready to lead a project? Who has confidence to lead through the tough challenge? And… are they skilled up to meet the opportunity? Do they have the knowledge and expertise needed to lead toward success?”
As consultants, we need to be deliberate to teach the upcoming generations about leadership and transferring the knowledge and expertise of the elder generations to those who are younger. Beth shared that today’s leaders need to possess, “Courage, trust, the ability to build and support culture and vision.”
Each of us has experience as a leader in some capacity. We need to ensure that we share those experiences and expect our clients to help prepare the next generation of their business for the challenges that they will certainly face during their time at the helm.
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Don Tyler
Tyler & Associates
ASAC VP/Secretary
Beth Archer has been the Executive Director of the Indiana AgriInstitute (www.agriinstitute.org) for over 30 years. Their main program is the Indiana Ag Leadership Program (ALP) which is a two-year leadership program for adults who are engaged in agriculture and Indiana’s many related industries. The cohorts in this program are selected every two years through an extensive application process to participate. They are required to attend twelve multi-day seminars with a focus on leadership capacities, industry sector awareness and issue study, and civic engagement. Ten of these sessions are in locations around Indiana to increase their awareness of different areas of the state. Additionally, they study for a week in Washington DC and two weeks of international study.
Beth has been recognized by National and International Ag Leadership programs for her service to agriculture, development of ag leaders, women’s leadership programs as well as a host of other accolades.
During her lunch presentation at the ASAC Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana in early November, Beth challenged the attendees to be those who Show Up, Stand Up and Step Into service for agriculture both here and abroad. She stressed that leadership is performed by PEOPLE. “It is people who lead our businesses, it is still people who do the research, it is still people who sell and produce products, it is still people who till the land and care for our animals. It is still people who design and fabricate our tools. It is still people who navigate the policy stew that we need here and abroad to do the business of Agriculture. I say it is “Still People” because as we continue to see the influence and matriculation of AI into our world. It should never be said that Robots or AI replace PEOPLE in leadership service.”
Beth defines leadership as, “The ability to inspire, guide, and influence others toward a common goal.” She emphasized that, “Shaping the leadership needed for today and tomorrow is a sincere concern. Who will lead a team? Who is ready to lead a project? Who has confidence to lead through the tough challenge? And… are they skilled up to meet the opportunity? Do they have the knowledge and expertise needed to lead toward success?”
As consultants, we need to be deliberate to teach the upcoming generations about leadership and transferring the knowledge and expertise of the elder generations to those who are younger. Beth shared that today’s leaders need to possess, “Courage, trust, the ability to build and support culture and vision.”
Each of us has experience as a leader in some capacity. We need to ensure that we share those experiences and expect our clients to help prepare the next generation of their business for the challenges that they will certainly face during their time at the helm.
= = = =
Don Tyler
Tyler & Associates
ASAC VP/Secretary
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