TOPEKA — The Garden City area will play host to the 2014 Leadership Kansas class from May 28 to 30, part of a series of meetings around the state.

During the Garden City session, the 40 members of the 2014 Leadership Kansas class will meet with Mayor Roy Cessna, participate in an immigration/diversity panel and energy panel, and tour Royal Farms Dairy, Reeve Cattle Co., Sunflower Electric Power Corp., and Tyson Foods. In addition, the group will meet Secretary of State Kris Kobach and others.

Over the course of the six-month regional meetings, the class will engage in discussions with top experts on the key issues facing Kansas. The Garden City area is the first of the six communities to host the 2014 Leadership Kansas class. Other locations include: Wichita, Manhattan/Junction City, Hays, the KC Metro area, Topeka, and an optional session in Pittsburg.

The Hays visit — the group’s fifth — is scheduled for Sept. 24 to 26.

Leadership Kansas is one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country. Established by the Kansas Chamber in 1979, the program is celebrating its 36th year of educating and motivating Kansas leaders from all four corners of the state. The Leadership Kansas program remains committed to its original mission to inspire persons to maintain involvement in the social, business and political fabric of our Kansas communities.

Leadership Kansas is currently accepting nominations through the end of the year for applicants for next year’s program, which will begin in April 2015 at www.leadershipkansas.org.

Northwest Kansas has two member of the Leadership Kansas board of trustees — Mary Hammond, Hays, and Jenifer Sanderson, Goodland.