Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Kentucky program builds future leaders in farming

By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

LEXINGTON, Ky. — That stereotypical image of a farmer in bibbed overalls with a straw hat and muddy shoes is a thing of the past. Those in agriculture are more in tune with preferred business practices along with economical and global issues.

In Kentucky, a program has evolved that is helping those in agriculture to focus on leadership skills, economic matters including trade, globalization, state and federal farm policy, etc. as well as the enhancement of their management skills.

The Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Program (KALP) is conducted by the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture and was previously called the Philip Morris Agricultural Leader-ship Program and is supported by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB), the UK College of Agriculture, Philip Morris USA, and previous leadership program alumni.

The present class, which graduated the program in March, marked the eighth such group to participate. The 18-month program includes seminars (18 days worth) and a variety of leadership-building skills.

Seminar topics included leadership styles, public policy, role of federal and state governments, strategic management, time management, globalization and international trade and communicating through the media.

Participants also had the opportunities to tour various aspects of agriculture and agribusiness including the equine industry. Those in the program have to be nominated by someone in the ag industry or a program alumnus and go through an application and interview process.

“This program is not only about agriculture,” said Larry Jones, program director for the UK College of Agriculture. “It’s also about understanding one’s self and the role individuals can play in important rural and urban issues, public policy issues, global economic issues and effective communications.”

The travel seminar itinerary for program participants included a four-day trip to Washington, D.C. to meet ag industry and congressional leaders, and a 14-day international tour of agriculture and agribusiness in Argentina and Chile.

During the tours, leaders had the chance to meet government officials and embassy staff. They also visited various beef, vegetable, grape and wine, equine and row-crop operations as well as several agribusinesses. A travel seminar to study California agriculture is scheduled later this summer.

Allison Smith, one of the 20 members graduating from the last leadership class, farms on her family operation in Scott County and is director of consumer affairs with the Kentucky Beef Council. She said the program provided the chance to experience many different aspects of the agriculture. “It was an excellent opportunity with the tremendous group of people they put together for us with their amount of knowledge, not just focusing on production ag but also policy issues,” she said. “Dr. Jones and Dr. (Will) Snell introduced us to amazing people.”

Snell is an ag economist with the UK College of Agriculture.
Smith also said the trips made by the group shed a lot of light on how Washington views agriculture and how other countries operate their ag industries.

“I learned to appreciate the political process even more while in Washington seeing the legislators working on behalf of the state’s and the nation’s farmers. It is very fair especially compared to other countries,” she said.

The South American trip came last January as the participants traveled more than 12,000 miles by plane, 1,000 miles by bus, and walked countless miles on farms and in cities to experience the diversity of agriculture production and the infrastructure of agribusinesses in Argentina and Chile.

While in Argentina, the group visited an array of family farms including horse farms, row-crop operations, beef farms, and even an agritourism site. They saw Liniers Cattle Market, the largest in the world, and visited Cactus Feeders Argentina. The company, widely known for its feedyard businesses in Texas, began international operations in 2000 with the first commercial feedyard in Argentina.

In Chile, the group got a first hand look at the country’s fruit and vegetable industry, which supplies much of the produce coming to this country during the winter months. They were joined by Senen Cornejo, the Kentucky Trade Representative for South America who accompanied the group to Valparaiso where he had arranged a guided tour of Chile’s largest port.

The trip also provided the group opportunities to learn about each country’s agricultural policies. In Chile they visited the U.S. Embassy discovering the role the U.S government plays overseas in agriculture and food security.

Participants traveled the state, too, visiting local governments and ag operations.

Smith was thankful to all the entities that make the program possible especially the KADB and those who have gone before her including her husband.

“I feel like it is valuable enough to do my best to try and help keep it funded,” she said.

For more, visit www.uky.edu/Ag/KALP

4/30/2008