How to apply: The application for the CAP class of ’25-’26 will be available in December 2024.
CAP placement preference given to employees of active NGFA member firms with at least 5 but less than 10 years of industry experience. Accepted CAPs will be notified no later than Feb. 16, 2024.
About the Committee Apprentice Program
Accepted applicants should be able to attend the following NGFA events:
128th NGFA Annual Convention, March 17-19, 2024, Orlando, FL: Your CAP year officially begins at Convention. Network with fellow CAPs and NGFA industry leadership, meet your NGFA staff committee liaisons, attend your first official committee meetings and partake in the networking and programming at one of our two flagship annual events.
Registration now open. CAPs receive a 10% discount on convention registration
Note: Early bird registration rate will be extended for accepted CAPs.
2024 Summer Legislative Fly-In, June 3-5, 2024, Washington, DC: This meeting is two meetings in one. The CAP DC Experience is for CAPs-only, and introduces how NGFA works for its members in Washington, including CFTC, USDA, STB and other agency visits, plus opportunities for networking and sight seeing in our nation’s capitol. The Fly-In is NGFA’s annual advocacy day on Capitol Hill. CAPs will partner with NGFA staff, committee members and senior executive leadership to lobby Congressional lawmakers on behalf of the industry.
Registration open late spring 2024. CAPs receive complimentary registration
CEC 2024, December 10-12, 2024, Kansas City, MO: This meeting offers a day and a half of business operations education, with practical foresight into the next year’s opportunities and challenges, presented by leading experts in agriculture, economics, and more. BONUS: Attend the CAP Lunch & Learn, facilitated by PeopleSpark Consulting. All current CAPs and CAP Year 2 participants are invited to attend a complimentary lunch and leadership workshop facilitated by the team behind the CAP Year 2 program.
Registration open early fall 2024. CAPs receive a 10% discount on CEC registration
129th Annual Convention, March 9-11, 2024, Carlsbad, CA: Attend the final committee meeting of you CAP year, network with your CAP classmates and NGFA senior leadership and welcome the new class of CAPs to the program at NGFA’s Annual Convention.
Registration open early winter 2025. CAPs receive a 10% discount on convention registration
Additional committee-specific meetings may be scheduled throughout the year. CAPs will be expected to attend committee meetings (to the best of their ability) and participate in other official committee activities like virtual meetings and requests for input via email.
CAP in the News
Past CAP Classes
The Committee Apprentice Program (CAP) is designed to develop future leaders within the industry and the NGFA by allowing early-career professionals (ideally between 5 – 10 years of work experience) to become apprenticed to an NGFA committee. Once appointed, apprentices participate fully in all committee activities, including meetings, conference calls and email exchanges. They are encouraged to learn the committee’s issues thoroughly and to participate actively in discussions.
In addition to participating in their specific committee activities, CAPs attend the NGFA Annual Convention and come to Washington, D.C., for the “CAP DC Experience.” The highlight of the CAP year for many, the DC Experience combines quintessentially Washingtonian activities such as Capitol Hill and foreign embassy visits, during which CAPs advocate for our industry, with the chance to dig deep into their committee’s specific issues with NGFA committee staff liaisons and spend plenty of time to network with fellow CAPs.
The CAP year runs from March Annual Convention to March Annual Convention. A limited number of apprentice positions are available – generally, one to three per committee, based on committee size. Those interested must apply for selection, including completing an application form and sending in a resume and letter of recommendation from the applicant’s current supervisor. The application period begins early each year, with selections made by late-January.
Committee Apprentice Program Goals
- Provide a way for the NGFA to develop closer linkages at various levels within member companies, with a particular emphasis on involving newer employees who companies identify as having future leadership potential and a promising future in the industry.
- Establish a mechanism for more employees within NGFA-member companies to learn about the wide range of policy issues and programs being addressed by NGFA committees, as well as the committees’ indispensable role within NGFA’s structure.
- Benefit member companies by providing a way to further broaden and develop the expertise of their top new talent – those whom they want to invest in.
- Identify potential new talent to engage at some future point in the NGFA’s committee system.
