b'"Iowa State gave me a solid foundation, but it was the early hands-on experience at Becker Underwood that really opened my eyes to the potential in this industry," he says.Climbing the Leadership Ladder at ASTAFoors involvement with ASTA began in 2020 as a regional vice president for the central region."ASTA has a robust leadership development program with numerous opportunities for industry members to get involved," he says. "I started as a regional vice president, which exposed me to the broader efforts of ASTA and allowed me to see the impact we can have on the industry."ASTA\'s leadership structure, which Foor refers to as a "leader-ship ladder," allows members to climb the ranks by choice and through a nominating committee led by a former chair. "You start as a second chair for one year, then first chair, and finally, you become the chair," he explains. "It\'s a good way to ensure consistency in leadership and not overwhelm the chair with learning everything in a short time. In addition, former chairs are asked to remain involved with the ASTA board for three addi-tional years following their term as chair."Foor believes this structured approach helps ensure leaders learn the ropes as they progress up the ladder. It also builds in a way to continue the business of the ASTA board from year to year."You get eased into the job over a period of two years," he says. It\'s comforting to know that past chairs are still involved, offering guidance and support."Dan, Chloe, Addison, Beth (wife) and Tessa on food tour in NewActivating MembersYork City, summer 2024. Since his installation at the ASTA Leadership Summit in June, Foor has pushed forward his theme of activation. He says ASTA has a strong, active membership, he only hopes to acti-vate them more.An association is only as strong as the engagement of its members," he states. "I thought through moments in my life when I was activated and how those moments led me to where I am today. My hope is to inspire others to get involved with ASTA. Our foundational challenge is really not just relatedI\'m a big theme guy and I like having an anchor for our activities. Staying active and activating our membership will be key to our to seed but agriculture in general. Its the lack ofcontinued success."understanding of whats going on today in agricultureHe elaborates on the importance of member engagement."ASTA has nearly 700 members, and we work in every crop and how crucial innovation is if we are to continuefrom alfalfa to zucchini, he says. Imagine if at least one person from every member (company) was involved with ASTA in some feeding, fueling and clothing the world.capacity. That would make us incredibly strong and active."Dan Foor Reflecting on his own experiences, he emphasizes, "There were key people in my life who took a chance on me, gave me a nudge when I needed it, and that\'s something I want to pass on. I want to activate others, help them see the potential in them-selves and the industry."Seed Industry Challenges Foor said one of the significant challenges facing the seed industry is the general lack of awareness about agriculture. 8/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2024'