The Ambassador Program is dedicated to establishing and maintaining relationships with key Members of Congress and other political stakeholders within participants’ service territories. By the end of the program, you will better be able to deliver Farm Credit’s message to political stakeholders. Participants have been identified by their institution’s executive management as an emerging Farm Credit leader with an interest and ability to develop and maintain these relationships.

Time Commitment                                                                                                                   

Prior to the fall Ambassador trip, the time commitment required of participants will be two to three hours per month. Participants will receive educational information monthly to help develop their knowledge of current FCS funding issues, global financial markets, current political topics and policy issues important to Farm Credit and its customers.

Participants are expected to complete assignments involving identifying key political contacts in their institution’s territory and making initial contacts locally. Again, these assignments will require no more than a few hours each month; however, what you put into this program is what you will get out of it. Each month we will discuss those assignments via a conference call. Please manage your schedule appropriately.

If a participant fails to complete two assignments, the participant may be removed from the program and will be unable to attend the Fall Trip.

In May, participants will gather in Denver, CO at the CoBank Center to kick off the 2024 Ambassador Program.

The Fall Trip is the most concentrated time commitment. Participants are expected to commit to traveling to New York, NY on Sunday, September 29, for an informal reception, and for meetings beginning early on Monday, September 30. We will be traveling from New York, NY, to Washington, DC, with the group and participating in meetings through the end of the evening on Thursday, October 3. Participants should anticipate an intense schedule during the trip.

Participants will be busy from early morning through evening each day; there will not be time to meet with customers or conduct other business.

The schedule requires participants to be able to walk and stand for extended periods of time. We will take public transportation when possible, but walking up to two miles each day is expected. However, individual arrangements can be made to accommodate for ADA compliance.

Cost                                                                     

CoBank will cover the costs of the program development, speaker fees, facility costs, group meals (during the May Kick-Off and Fall Trip Sunday night through Thursday night), and transportation between New York, NY and Washington, DC on Tuesday, October 1.

Each participant’s employer will be responsible for:

May Kick-Off

• Round trip travel between Ambassador’s home city and Denver, CO
  • Transportation to and from the airport (in both cities)
• Lodging for one night at the hotel arranged by CoBank ($229 + tax per night)
• Any transportation or meals not provided as part of the official program
• Any other incidental expenses

Fall Trip

• Travel from Ambassador’s home city to New York, NY
  • Transportation to and from the airport
• Travel from Washington, DC to Ambassador’s home city
  • Transportation to and from the airport
• Lodging for five nights at the hotels arranged by CoBank
  • Two nights in New York, NY ($415 + tax per night) 
  • Three nights in Washington, DC ($399 + tax per night)
• Any transportation or meals not provided as part of the official program
• Any other incidental expenses

CoBank will make all logistical arrangements, with the exception of transportation to and from the meeting’s beginning and ending locations. We will happily provide additional guidance, if requested.

Spouse Policy                                                                                                                  

The Ambassador Program is a working program and it is not possible to accommodate spouses into the program.

Rooms, meals, transportation between New York, NY and Washington, DC, buses in DC, even meeting rooms for our gatherings are all arranged based on the number of selected participants in the program. Adding additional people to the group is not feasible. As a result, we encourage participants to avoid bringing their spouse on all portions of the Ambassador Program.

Safety Precautions                                                                                                             

If you aren’t feeling well, please stay in your hotel room and contact Stephanie Lifland if you require assistance.