1. What's it all about?

2. What are the program objectives?

3. Who's right for LEAD New York?

4. What does the program involve?

5. How much does LEAD New York cost?

6. Why do we need LEAD New York?

7. What has LEAD New York accomplished?

8. How can I find out more about LEAD New York? 

 

 

 

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The mission of LEAD New York is to inspire and develop leaders for the food and agricultural industry.  It is a unique program that emphasizes the development of communication and leadership skills, studies public policymaking, enhances issue evaluation and problem-solving techniques, and provides networking connections that can prove valuable for years to come.

 

LEAD New York is a leadership development program for adult professionals in the food and agricultural industry. We define leadership as a social influence process for change. The program builds social capital, a resource that can be drawn upon long after completion of the program. Participants learn to appreciate diversity and the new perspectives it offers. The program improves participants’ leadership skills through an experiential education/action learning process that includes instruction, practice, feedback and reflection.  

Program outcomes generally fall into one of three broad categories: 

I.       Skill Development – skills that are developed include:

A.     network-, relationship-, and team-building skills

B.     communication skills (e.g. public speaking, listening)

C.     other skills (e.g. critical thinking) useful in leadership processes. In improving their competency in these skill areas, participants become more effective at influencing others to bring about change in organizations. Specific skills are not limited to, but may include:

a.      Public speaking, written communication, and effective listening

b.            Working with media, marketing and promotion

c.      Conflict resolution, argumentation and debate

d.             Personality type awareness and self assessment

e.       Networking, diversity appreciation

f.         Teambuilding and teamwork

g.       Meeting management

h.       Problem identification/Collaborative problem solving

i.          Critical thinking/Systems thinking/Change management

j.         Technological literacy/Research skills

k.            Time management and organization

II.            Issues Awareness - Participants also develop a broader knowledge/awareness of relevant issues, with the food and agricultural industry, and to a lesser extent the public policy arena, serving as the context in which this leadership development takes place. Activities help our participants understand the policy development process at the local, state, federal and international levels. In addition to learning how the policy development process works, they learn how it affects them and how to influence it. The specific issues studied in LEAD New York change from class to class, depending on the learning needs of the participants and the relevancy to current industry/community challenges. These issues provide the context in which leadership skill development is practiced, and public policy is examined.  These issues may include, but are not limited to, such things as: 

a.       Labor/Immigration

b.      Trade

c.    Environment

d.      Technology

e.       Food safety/security

f.        Land use and development

g.       Ethics

h.       Innovation/creativity

i.         Specific agricultural sectors (e.g. dairy, equine, forestry, etc.)

III.             Reflection (i.e. self-awareness) Participants realize the importance of life-long learning, practice ongoing reflection, and seek out new opportunities to continue their leadership development. By improving their confidence in their leadership abilities, participants are often inspired to serve in leadership roles. Participants are challenged and motivated to get involved in the public policy process and community service roles.

Whether directly or indirectly, a great many people have jobs that are affected in some way by New York's food and agricultural system.  Any of these could benefit from LEAD New York participation:

• Dairy producer
• Grape producer/winery owner
• Commercial fruit or vegetable grower
• Fresh-market fruit or vegetable grower
• Cash crop producer
• Livestock producer
• Organic farmer
• Greenhouse or nursery operator
• Turf-grass or sod producer
• Forest owner
• Maple producer
• Equine owner, breeder or trainer
• Food processor
• Consultant
• Educator
• Farm Bureau representative
• Government agency representative
• County agent
• Food retailer
• Cooperative staff
• Ag insurance provider
• Ag lending officer
• Animal health provider
• Land preservation specialist 

And many others

 

LEAD New York is a two-year program with approximately 50 days of enlightening seminars, workshops and field travel, in and out of New York state.  Classes run from October to April, meeting once a month for three to five day workshops in a different part of  New York state.  Trips to Washington D.C., New York City, Ottawa, Canada and elsewhere are also included in the curriculum.

 

Most of the program's costs are paid for by the food and agricultural industry donors and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.  The total per-student cost is approximately $15,000.  Participants are expected to pay a year 1 tuition fee of $2,000 due October 1, 2011 and year 2 tuition of $2,000 will be due October 1, 2012.  Many find local sponsors to help with this expense.  LEAD NY can offer a small scholarship to cover some of the tuition expenses of individual participants, if necessary.

 

As fewer people are involved in the direct production of food, many begin to take for granted a seemingly endless food supply.  With this decreasing knowledge of food production, it is more crucial than ever for our industry to clearly communicate its needs, participate in policy formulation, and interact with government.  All this requires strong leaders, developed from within the ranks of the food and agricultural industry.

 

Over 360 people have already completed the program and are currently employing their knowledge and leadership abilities for the good of the industry.  Ninety percent of graduates are involved in agricultural or community organizations, while a great many are also corporate officers or board directors, or serve in government positions.  Still others have applied their skills as management consultants, media advisors, or in their own entrepreneurial endeavors. 

 

Contact the LEAD New York office to request further information.