North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Agricultural Leadership Development Program 2008-10

Agricultural Leadership Development Program 2008-2010

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NC State University

Introduction

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University announces a two-year program designed to develop the leadership skills of up to 30 young agriculturists who exhibit considerable leadership potential. The participants would be representative of all agriculture and related agribusiness in North Carolina. This program consists of eight seminars at NC State University; one training session with spouses; a legislative study tour to Washington, D.C.; a study tour to Brazil (if funds are available), a major competitor with agricultural commodities of the United States; and a wrap-up session with spouses.

Objectives

The Agricultural Leadership Development Program will help participants:
•   Understand problems and policies related to agricultural commodities and agricultural issues;
•   Develop a better understanding of people, their environments, and their personal and group aspirations;
•   Build an understanding of the public policy development process and prepare individuals to participate in that process;
•   Analyze and work in teams to solve complex agricultural problems relating to agricultural production, people, the environment, and the state and world economies;
•   Enhance their ability to provide leadership in the resolution of agricultural issues;
•   Improve their ability to communicate to both large and small groups, while increasing confidence in working with people;
•   Improve their ability to manage a farm and related agribusiness in a competitive global economy;
•   Establish a basis for lifelong development by stimulating a desire for independent study and learning.

The total effort is designed to help people make informed decisions on public issues - decisions that shape the future of rural communities in North Carolina.

The Program

The social, economic and political changes affecting agriculture and rural communities pose a challenge to farmers and rural leaders. It is important that potential leaders in agriculture be identified and trained to assume leadership roles. They must be prepared to bridge the gaps between rural and urban interests, to participate actively in issues affecting agriculture and to foster unity among agricultural interests.

The Agricultural Leadership Development Program of North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is designed to prepare 30 selected outstanding young agriculturalists for such challenges. Support comes from grants from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, Golden LEAF Foundation, commodity and farm organizations and related agribusinesses.

The participants will represent diverse agricultural enterprises in North Carolina, and their ages will range from 25-45. They will take part in 50 days of training over two years. There are eight seminars in Raleigh, a legislative study tour to Washington, a study tour to Brazil and local and domestic study tours to enrich participant leadership abilities. In Brazil, participants will observe agricultural production and marketing strategies of a major U.S. agricultural competitor. The domestic tours provide participants an opportunity to observe production of diverse agricultural commodities and to understand how producers deal with environmental issues.

Throughout the program, participants will focus on important agricultural issues they have identified for North Carolina and their communities. Training focuses on the following areas:

∙ Mastering Self
∙ Mastering an Understanding of Agriculture’s Environment
∙ Mastering Relationships
∙ Managing Social and Organizational Action
∙ Enhancing Participants’ Understanding of Global and National Aspects of Agriculture

Throughout the program, leaders from government, commodity and farm organizations interact with the participants on issues and leadership opportunities.

Program Cost

Sponsors of the program will be sought from the various commodity organizations in North Carolina. This is in addition to major grants from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the Golden LEAF Foundation. This will include travel, food, and lodging for formal seminars and study travel tours. Supplies and reading materials also will be provided. Participants will be expected to pay a registration fee of $600, due at the second seminar, to help defray expenses. The operating costs per participant will be about $15,000 each, not including the international study tour.

Program Leadership

Program development and implementation will be done by faculty from N.C. State University and others as needed to enrich the program. The program leaders have had experience with eight previous successful two-year leadership programs.

Eligibility

Active farmers and related agribusiness individuals between 25 and 45 years of age are eligible to apply for the 30 participants in the program. Up to five field faculty from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service may be invited to participate. Spouses will be asked to complete a supporting application. North Carolina State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, or national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Selection Process

Selection will be by a committee of the co-directors of the program, members of the Personal and Organizational Development team (NCCES), and representatives of other CALS departments. Those selected to participate will be announced in early September 2008. Personal interviews will be conducted with applicants/spouses to insure they understand the expectations of the program and time commitment required. Interviews will be conducted at the work place or at the home of the applicant.

Seminar Initiation

The first three-day seminar is expected to be held in Raleigh in mid-October 2008. All seminars and trips will be during the months of October, November, December, January, and February, with the program being completed in February 2010 or October 2010.

Application

You may download editable (doc) or print-only (pdf) versions of the application online. Take the completed application to your county extension director for signature and submission to: W.K. Collins, CALS Advancement, NC State University, Campus Box 7645, Raleigh, NC 27695-7645. Telephone (919) 513-2944. Fax (919) 515-5274. Receipt of each application will be acknowledged. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Collins.

Copies of the application forms are available from the director of your county extension office. Applicants are encouraged to communicate with several of the 200 who have been participants in one of the eight previous Agricultural Leadership Programs from 1984-2007, especially participants in the 2005-07 program because the 2008-10 program content will be very similar.

Previous Leadership Program Participants from North Carolina Classes 1984-86, 1986-88, 1989-91, 1992-94, 1996-98, 1999-2001, 2002-04, 2005-07

*Jamie Ager	Fairview, NC
William Andrews	Fuquay Varina, NC
Linda Andrews	Fuquay Varina, NC
Andrew Arnold	Washington, NC
John Ashe	Reidsville, NC
*David Askew	Elm City, NC
*Amanda Aycock	Louisburg, NC
James Barbour	Clayton, NC
John Barnes	Spring Hope, NC
Charlie Batten	Four Oaks, NC
*Stan Biconish	Fuquay-Varina, NC
*John Bizic	Wilmington, NC
Bill Blackman	Wilson, NC
Jonathan Bone	Nashville, NC
Donnie Boyette	Kenly, NC
*Art Bradley	Rocky Mount, NC
Phill Bradley	Sanford, NC
Preston Britt	Lumberton, NC
Talmadge Burgess Jr.	Henderson, NC
*Andrew Burleson	New London, NC
David Burns	Laurel Hill, NC
Bill Cameron, Jr.	Raeford, NC
Kelly Carlton	Wilson, NC
Billy Carter	Eagle Springs, NC
W.L. Carter Jr.	Scotland Neck, NC
John Clapp	Greensboro, NC
Jody Clemmons	Supply, NC
Rodney Coleman	Wilson, NC
James Crews	Oxford, NC
Amy Dalrymple	Sanford, NC
Tommy Dalrymple	Sanford, NC
David Davenport	Greenville, NC
Charles Davenport	Greenville, NC
Lawrence Davenport	Greenville, NC
Max Denning	Benson, NC
*Sam Dobson	Statesville, NC
Dennis Durham	Four Oaks, NC
Jack Edmondson Jr.	Maury, NC
Julie Edwards	Bladenboro, NC
Scott Edwards	Bladenboro, NC
Mike Gaster	Sanford, NC
Walt Gerard	Washington, NC
Howard Gentry	King, NC
Steve Grady	Mt. Olive, NC
McRay Greene, Jr.	Walnut Cove, NC
Bobby Ham	Snow Hill, NC
*Tim Hambrick	Dobson, NC
Charles Harrell	Stantonsburg, NC
Norman Harrell	Lucama, NC
Norris Harrell	Macclesfield, NC
*David Hartman	Walnut Cove, NC
David Haynes	Dobson, NC
David Hinnant	Kenly, NC
Kenneth Hinnant	Kenly, NC
Russell Horton	Hurdle Mills, NC
*Jeremy Hudson	Newton Grove, NC
Pelmon Hudson, Jr.	Turkey, NC
James Huggins	Clarkton, NC
Brent Hunter	Yadkinville, NC
*John Ivey	Mount Olive, NC
Rouse Ivey	Mount Olive, NC
*Kevin Johnson	Pikeville, NC
Tony Jones	Mount Olive, NC
Thomas Joyner	Rocky Mount, NC
Whitney King	Ash, NC
*Kevin Kinlaw	Bladenboro, NC
Dudley Langdon	Angier, NC
Sandy Langdon	Dunn, NC
*Donny Lassiter	Conway, NC
A.K. Leach Jr.	Raeford, NC
Brent Leggett	Nashville, NC
*Susan Leggett	Nashville, NC
Dan Lewis	Orrum, NC
Steve Lilley	Williamston, NC
Dwight Little	Durham, NC
Craig Lovette	Lumberton, NC
Lex Mann Jr	Washington, NC
Charlie McClenny	Mount Olive, NC
Allen McLaurin	Laurel Hill, NC
John McLawhorn	Hookerton, NC
*Richard Melton	Wadesboro, NC
Miles Mercer Jr.	Lumberton NC
James Morris	Colerain, NC
Mann Mullen	Bunn, NC
Morris Murphy	Albertson, NC
Paul Myers	Blanch, NC
Daniel Nelson	Warsaw, NC
*Kelvin Norris	Princeton, NC
James Overton	Creedmoor, NC
Dale Parker	Pfafftown, NC
Keith Parrish	Benson, NC
Jimmy Pate	Rowland NC
*Jeff Peed	Aurora, NC
Raeford Pernell	Warrenton, NC
Stuart Pierce, Jr.	Ahoskie, NC
Elbert Pitt	Macclesfield, NC
*Tom Porter	Rocky Mount, NC
James Radford	Mount Airy, NC
Melvin Ray, Jr.	Whiteville, NC
Richard Renegar	Harmony, NC
Alton Roberson	Kinston, NC
Mark Ross	Wiliamston, NC
Kenneth Rudd	Greensboro, NC
Larry Sampson	Rowland, NC
Milton Sawyer, Jr.	Greenville, NC
*Dewey Scott	Lucama, NC
Linwood Scott III	Lucama, NC
Zane Sells	Kernersville, NC
Thaddeus Sharp IV	Sims, NC
Thomas Shaw III	Henderson, NC
Clay Shields	Scotland Neck, NC
*George Simpson	Beaufort, NC
*Billy Slade, Jr.	Bath, NC
Anthony Smith	Pink Hill, NC
Gary Smith	Yadkinville, NC
Bill Smith	Cary, NC
Randy Smith	Deep Run, NC
Arlie Snider	Mt. Airy, NC
Bryant Spivey	Smithfield, NC
*Suzanne Stallings	Elizabeth City, NC
Wiley Stancill	Ayden, NC
Michael "Bo" Stone	Rowland, NC
Clay Strickland	Clinton, NC
Reginald Strickland	Mount Olive, NC
Jay Sullivan	Faison, NC
*Lee Swinson	Mount Olive, NC
Victor Swinson	Mount Olive, NC
Winslow Tew	Albertson, NC
Mark Tucker	Madison, NC
Ralph Tucker, Jr.	Greenville, NC
Jeff Turlington	Coats, NC
Kent Turlington	Coats, NC
*Jeff Tyson	Nashville, NC
Kerry Venable	Belews Creek, NC
*Kerry Venable II	Belews Creek, NC
Linwood Vick	Wilson, NC
Betty Vollmer	Bunn, NC
John Vollmer	Bunn, NC
*Stacy Walker	Mocksville, NC
*Keith Waller	Mount Olive, NC
Bobby Walls Jr.	Goldsboro, NC
Danny Walters	Fairmont, NC
Dan Ward	Clarkton, NC
*Brandon Warren	Clinton, NC
Mark Wellons	Princeton, NC
William Whaley, Jr.	Kinston, NC
Faylene Whitaker	Climax, NC
Richard Whitaker	Climax, NC
Shane Whitaker	Climax, NC
Garland Whitford, Jr.	Ernul, NC
Scottie Whitford	Grantsboro, NC
Joseph Wiggins, Jr.	Trenton, NC
Ernest Winstead	Nashville, NC
Allen Wooten	Burgaw, NC
Larry Wooten	Raleigh, NC
Bryant Worley	Princeton, NC
Harold Wright	Bladenboro, NC

*2005-07 Program Participants from North Carolina