Ag Leadership Program Curriculum

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The program conducts a series of in-state and travel seminars that require approximately 45 days over a 25-month period.

The in-state seminars are held in:

• Year 1 – January, February, October and December
• Year 2 – January, February and October

The travel seminars are held in:

• June of each year for the national travel seminars.
• January at the end of the second year for the international travel seminar.

The graduation ceremony is in February following the international travel seminar.

Each seminar is a core learning opportunity. They emphasize:

• Leadership skills

o Community service

• Year 1 – January, February, October and December
• Year 2 – January, February and October

The travel seminars are held in:

• June of each year for the national travel seminars.
• January at the end of the second year for the international travel seminar.

The graduation ceremony is in February following the international travel seminar.

Each seminar is a core learning opportunity. They emphasize:

• Leadership skills
  • Community service
    • Participants select a hands-on service project that gives them servant leadership experience.
  • Critical thinking
    • Class members are presented with topics that impact commodities and communities in Louisiana. They are given opportunities to think and act on these issues.
  • Meeting management
    • Training includes parliamentary procedure and agenda setting for leading boards and committees in agriculture.
  • Networking
    • Structured networking events and informal interactions during seminars with fellow class members and program alumni.
  • Professionalism
    • Emphasis is placed on ethical leadership, accountability and representing agriculture with integrity.
  • Public Policy/Service
    • How elected officials and commodity representatives serve their constituents.
  • Self-awareness
    • Members learn about their personal leadership style, strengths and areas for growth through behavioral assessments and personal reflection.
• Effective Communication
  • Conflict communication
    • Strategies for managing conflict constructively are presented to the group.
  • Generational communication
    • Training focuses on a better understanding of each generation in the workforce and how to effectively communicate with each group.
  • Lobbying
    • Advocacy techniques and legislative processes are a part of several seminars. Members learn how to represent agricultural interests to policymakers.
  • Media
    • Seminars include media training to prepare for interviews and the use of digital platforms to share agricultural stories.
  • Persuasion
    • Techniques on how to influence others are taught so members can have an impact on important issues.
  • Verbal and writing skills
    • Verbal and writing skills are incorporated throughout the program and give participants confidence to tell their story.
• Issues
  • Agricultural production/processing
    • Field examples of agricultural production, harvest and processing.
  • Agricultural research
    • Exposure to the latest research that can impact production, sustainability and innovation in agriculture.
  • Economic development
    • Agriculture’s role in the rural and state economies.
  • Environment
    • Discussions about conservation, climate and sustainable practices in agriculture.
  • Public policy
    • Presentations and visits that show the impact of policy at the local, state, national and international levels.
  • Technology
    • Exposure to emerging technologies from precision agriculture to biotechnology that impact production.
  • Trade and global competition
    • How trade and the competitive landscape can impact production at the local level.