By Julie Tomascik
Associate Editor

One county Farm Bureau uniquely invests in future agricultural leaders…

Small towns or big cities—agriculture has a place. And leaders are needed.

Ones who grow through action. Seek continued involvement. And fill a demand with knowledge and training.

It’s what the Wilbarger County L.E.A.D.S. (Leadership, Engagement, Actions, Development, Service) program was built on.

The inaugural training, sponsored by Wilbarger County Farm Bureau (CFB) and numerous local businesses, looked to inspire youth leadership in agriculture. Five high school juniors and seniors—Karlee Whatley, Emma Parmer, Morgan Whitman, Katelyn Fouse and Alicia Maldonado—were the first participants in the summer leadership academy.

“We want more young men and women involved. We need them to be involved in agriculture,” Wilbarger CFB President Randall Mints said. “But we need to help them find their way. This leadership program is a start to doing that and growing more leaders.”

And sowing those seeds of the future included connecting youth with their legislators, community and potential careers through five hands-on sessions.

Running an efficient, effective meeting requires sound parliamentary procedures. And the Wilbarger CFB board of directors shared chapter-conducting tips with the students.

“We were able to meet and get to know the board members,” said Whitman, a senior at Vernon High School. “Their personalities came through during the meeting and we were able to see how they handled different meeting situations. It was a lot of fun and a valuable learning experience.”

The students attended and participated in a town hall meeting—getting an inside look at public discussions and learning about civic leadership.

“I’m a part of this town and I haven’t attended a meeting like this before,” said Fouse, a junior at North Side High School. “But it inspired me to get more involved in my community and in leadership roles.”

Sen. Charles Perry and Rep. Drew Springer were in attendance. And they met with the Wilbarger CFB board of directors and L.E.A.D.S. participants for a dinner following the meeting. There, the students had the opportunity to interview the legislators and learn more about their jobs as elected officials.

Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) legislative staff took the students through congressional insights, a simulation program that allowed each participant to be a freshman member of Congress. They also toured Tyson Foods, one of the leading employers in Wilbarger County.

And they went back to the farm. The source of food, fiber and fuel. Of jobs and passion for many. Young Farmer & Rancher Committee Chairman Layne Chapman spent time walking the students through new irrigation techniques and the importance of water conservation on the farm. They drove a sprayer and learned about the direct impact of technology on agriculture.

“It takes an understanding and appreciation of the vast amount of knowledge farmers and ranchers must have, and Layne was able to convey that,” Mints said. “Walking through the fields, talking about technology and operating equipment helped deepen that agricultural connection for these students.”

Those hands-on experiences carried over into their public relations and crisis management training.

Tough questions. Quick timelines. High expectations. It’s all part of managing a crisis. And each student had the chance to develop key messages and take part in on-camera interviews.

“We need them to be able to answer questions from the media, consumers or their peers,” Mints said. “This public relations training helps them think about possible questions and scenarios and how they can better prepare. It’s part of being a leader.”

But leadership also requires reflection. Through an assessment of individual personalities, the students were able to focus on their strengths and identify their unique leadership styles.

“The program made me take a look at myself, my strengths and my weaknesses,” Maldonado, a senior at North Side High School, said. “But we didn’t focus on our weaknesses. We learned how to better use our strengths to lead and develop our weaknesses.”

The students finished the leadership academy with a graduation ceremony and were each awarded $1,000 scholarships, which were made possible with the h