It is time for Tennessee’s agriculture and forestry industries to develop new leaders in their fields.
The Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, an institution of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS), the UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and other partner institutions, developed the Tennessee Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program (TAFLP). TAFLP provides leadership and networking opportunities for farmers, foresters, and the agricultural community.
“The farm community is the backbone of rural Tennessee. It is exciting to leverage our Naifeh Center’s expertise in leadership and community leadership to support food, fiber and forestry producers in this personal growth experience. In turn, we expect program participants to have a meaningful impact on the vitality of rural areas across the state with the tools, skills and network it provides,” said IPS Vice President Herb Byrd III. “The partnership and support of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Farm Bureau, UTIA, Farm Credit MidAmerica, Tennessee Farmer’s Co-op and other commodity groups demonstrates a strong commitment to rural leadership.”
UTIA continues to train undergraduate and graduate students in agriculture and forestry and aims to expand those efforts with this new partnership.
“By providing real. life. solutions. to Tennessee and beyond through teaching, research and service, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is investing in preparing Tennesseans to help shape the future of agriculture and forestry in our state,” said Keith Carver, UTIA senior vice chancellor and senior vice president. “We are pleased to partner with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to support the Tennessee Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program and its first cohort of participants.”
TAFLP is an 18-month program that includes travel throughout the state, an out-of-state industry trip, and a visit to Washington, DC. It pairs cohort participants with others in the agriculture and forestry industries and includes tours of farms, forests, and businesses. Participants attend leadership development sessions to improve their communication, leadership, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and strategic planning skills.
“Agriculture and forestry are the foundation of our state,” said Agriculture Secretary Charlie Hatcher. “We want to invest in people who are passionate about learning and leading in these industries. This program is an important step to ensure the continued success of Tennessee’s farms and forests for generations to come.”
By improving their communication skills, gaining a deeper understanding of key policy issues – particularly those affecting agriculture and rural communities – and understanding the impact of globalization on agriculture and rural communities, TAFLP graduates gain the self-awareness and confidence they need to succeed as leaders.
“The Tennessee Farm Bureau is thrilled to partner with agriculture industry partners to provide Tennessee farmers with a world-class leadership training opportunity,” said Eric Mayberry, president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau. “Our farmers here in Tennessee do exceptional things on and off the farm, and we hope this program will further develop their leadership skills for their farm, family, community and beyond. This program has been a long time coming, and we are excited about the great benefits it will bring to our farmers and Tennessee agriculture.”
Interested individuals can nominate themselves for the program or be nominated by someone else. Ideal candidates are Tennessee residents who are actively involved in agriculture, ranching, or a business closely related to agriculture or forestry, including the food and fiber industries. They are self-motivated and eager to take advantage of the learning opportunities offered by the program.
Similar programs exist in Kansas and Kentucky. The Kentucky Agricultural Leadership Program (KALP) was established in 1985 and has since produced over 300 graduates.
Land loss is a problem throughout the U.S., and Tennessee is one of the states with the greatest losses. In 2020, the American Farmland Trust ranked Tennessee as the fourth most at-risk state for farmland conversion. According to Charlie Martinez of UTIA, 86 percent of Tennessee was covered by cropland and forest land in 2017. From 1997 to 2017, Tennessee lost 1.1 million acres of cropland and forest land, and from 2017 to 2022, the state lost another half a million acres. All partners involved in the TAFL program hope this is a step toward revitalizing agriculture in the state.
For more information about TAFLP, visit https://tiny.utk.edu/taflp> or contact Kim Harmon at (423) 368-4183.
