Agriculture and natural resources leadership program holds first session

The LEADelaware agriculture and natural resources leadership program recently held its first session with its new class of members.

The LEAD Fellows for 2016-18 are Amber Bataille, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; Dan Bautista, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Georgetown; Brooks Cahall, DNREC; James Carpenter III, farmer; Claire Cooper, Sussex Conservation District; Blake Moore, Delaware Department of Agriculture; Dan Severson, Extension, New Castle County; Samantha Steele, Weller and Associates LLC; Terra Tatman, Crop Production Services; and Michele Walfred, Extension, Georgetown.

The class spent Jan. 27 and 28 in Rehoboth Beach learning about team building, personality traits and the definition of leadership, as well as more about Delaware agriculture from Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. Over the next two years, they will learn about policymaking, communications, the legislative process, advocacy and leadership styles in a series of 10 seminars. The program will include an international trip planned by the fellows to learn more about global agriculture.

“We are really excited to begin the next class of LEADelaware fellows,” said LEAD co-director Michelle Rodgers, associate dean and director of University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. “This is a great group that will grow together in their leadership journey over the next two years and have a deal of potential to contribute to the industry in leadership roles.”

LEADelaware is a partnership between the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture, as well as sponsors including MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. and the Delaware Soybean Board.

For more information, go to sites.udel.edu/leadelaware.