By Shala Watson
Staff Writer
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) offers programs to help farmers and ranchers in the Lone Star State become stronger leaders in agriculture and beyond. These programs provide the tools farmers and ranchers need to grow personally and professionally.
TFB’s Agricultural Leadership Enhancement and Development (AgLead) is a two-year program that helps farmers and ranchers between the ages of 25 and 40 to develop stronger leadership skills and become a viable voice for agriculture.
AgLead XIII class members will attend nine sessions between November 2016 and October 2018 across Texas, the U.S. and international borders.
These sessions better equip participants with valuable communication and leadership skills. They also sharpen their political and cultural awareness to be successful leaders in their communities and across the state.
AgLead includes visits to some of the nation’s most diversified and innovative agricultural operations, processors, packagers and marketers in the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas Panhandle, Southeast Texas, California and the Midwest.
AgLead encourages young farmers and ranchers to engage politically through face-to-face visits with officials in Austin and Washington, D.C. Through this process, class members gain insight into regulations and politics and learn how to influence the outcomes.
“AgLead provides the resources our farmers and ranchers use to find their voice and develop a strong leadership style,” said Whit Weems, TFB director of Leader Development. “AgLead demonstrates the value of networking. Agriculture is a family and AgLead helps our farmers and ranchers understand what’s happening beyond their fence line. It helps push them out of their comfort zone and build confidence.”
TFB’s Farm and Ranch Managers Leadership Education and Development (FarmLead) is a two-year program that guides seasoned farmers and ranchers above age 40 through a wide variety of issues.
FarmLead class members also travel across Texas and the nation to meet face-to-face with key political leaders, decision-makers and industry representatives. These trips provide an opportunity to see various techniques and practices in agriculture, agribusiness, research and technology.
FarmLead VI members attend six sessions in the next two years that help sharpen their communication and leadership skills. These sessions will include visits to Austin, the Midwest, California and Washington, D.C.
“FarmLead enhances participants’ skills and opens the door to connect and network with other leaders,” said Jamie Gipe, TFB director of Organization. “The comprehensive curriculum equips experienced farmers and ranchers with the latest industry information and connections to enhance both their businesses and the industry as a whole.”