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Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

“Linking Citizens of Louisiana with Opportunities for Success”

Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute

Dawn Mellion - Patin, Ph.D., MBAExtension Specialist – Agriculture

Project Director



Accomplishments• Appointments to Regional

Advisory Boards:– Southern Region Risk Management

Education Advisory Board; – Southern Sustainable Agriculture

Research and Education Advisory Board.



Appointments to state and local AdvisoryBoards and Taskforces:

– Florida Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

– Council of Agriculture, Research, Education and Teaching representative at Alcorn State University

– Florida Small Farms Planning committee– Appointed to University of Florida Extension

Advisory Board– Member of Prairie View A & M University

Extension Advisory Board



Appointments to state and local AdvisoryBoards and Taskforces:

• Kentucky State University Small Farm Conference planning committee task force for Hamilton County (Florida) Growth and Development Commission

• Appointed to serve on the West Baton Rouge Parish (Louisiana ) USDA / Natural Resources Conservation Service Board



Conferences, meetings and other speaking engagements

• Invited to participate in USDA Partner meeting as a CBO represent

• Panelist at Women in Agriculture Conference

• Keynote speaker at North Carolina A & T State University Small Farm Week Program

• Panelist at NRCS Grazing Workshop



Serving Others• Serve as a model farm for farmers in

Oklahoma• Serve as a model farm in South

Carolina and their farm serves as a site for Clemson University College of Agriculture students internships

• Assist with identifying minority producers for training programs leading to organic certification



Serving Others• Distributor of organic seeds for small scale

producers• One of the key players in starting the Blue Grass

Farmers’ Market.• Spearheaded and chaired the first Saving Rural

America conference outside Jackson, Mississippi, an outreach activity attended by more 350 people.

• Farm was featured in an educational training video produced by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.



Small Farmers of the Year

• Selected as 2006 Small Farmers of the Year by Langston University

• North Carolina 2008 Small Farmer of the Year by North Carolina A & T State University

• 2006 Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Small Farmer of the Year

• 2009 South Carolina State Association of Cooperatives



What is the Institute?Two year program designed to assistsocially disadvantaged, limited resourceand / or minority producers become betterleaders for the agricultural community.



Goal

• The overriding goal is to promote the sustainability of small family farms through enhanced business management skills and leadership development.



Objectives• Enhance understanding of

agricultural infrastructure, state and federal government, agricultural economics, and effects of global agricultural on the U.S. economy.

• Increase the leadership, decision-making and analytical skills of Institute participants.



Objectives cont.• Improve Institute participants’ ability

to manage a farm business in a competitive global economy.

• Develop and enhance the business management and marketing skills of limited resource farmers.



Objectives cont.• Introduce producers to how

decisions are made at the county, state, regional and national levels

• Build an understanding of the public policy development process and prepare individuals to participate in the process



Objectives cont.• Improve their ability to communicate

to both large and small groups, while increasing confidence in working with people.

• Establish a basis for lifelong learning and development, by stimulating a desire for independent study and learning.



Application Process / Criteria

• Nomination by Ag professional from an 1890 institution

• Letter of interest• Leadership Aspirations• Currently engaged in Agricultural

endeavors• Strong desire to be a better leader



Demographics Class I

• Age Range 30 - 67• By Race / Ethnicity

– Native American 1– African American 21– Caucasian 3

• By Sex– Female 10– Males 15



Demographics Class II• Age Range 28 – 72• By Sex

– Males 16– Females 10

• By Race / Ethnicity– African Americans 21– Caucasian 3– Hispanic 2



States with Graduates • Oklahoma• Missouri• Alabama• N. Carolina• S. Carolina• Kentucky• Georgia

• Florida• Arkansas• Mississippi• Louisiana • Texas• Maryland• Tennessee



Expected Outcomes • More familiarity with the agricultural

public policy infrastructure and its effect on the U.S. economy;

• Agricultural leaders equipped with enhanced decision-making and analytical skills;



Expected Outcomes cont.• A greater understanding and appreciation

for business management, marketing and how it relates to farm success;

• Agricultural leaders with a desire to constantly improve their farm situation, the farm situations of those in their communities and an atmosphere for lifelong learning and public service; and



Expected Outcomes cont.• Increased net farm income through

better farm and business management.



Topics Covered• Individual Leadership

Development• Best Management Practices• Community Leadership

Development• Maintaining Good Credit• Financial Management• Agricultural Policy Issues• Leadership Theory• Tax Planning• Serving on governing boards• USDA programs and services• Basic computer applications• Identifying Alternative

Enterprises for your operation

• Loan application processes and completion procedures

• Developing farm and home plans

• Legal Risk - estate planning, credit worthiness

• Insuring commodities• Self Motivation, Self-esteem• Communicating Effectively• Conflict resolution & mediation• Attributes of a Leader -

Leadership styles & assessment

• Qualifying requirements for various governmental programs



Past & Present Leadership Team• Mr. Edoe Agbodgan – SCSU• Dr. Nelson T. Daniels – PVAMU• Dr. Michelle Eley – NCAT• Dr. Henry English – UAPB• Dr. Tasha Hargrove – TU• Mrs. Angela M. Jakes – FAMU• Dr. L. Washington Lyons - AEA• Dr. M. Ray McKinnie – NCAT



Past & Present Leadership Team• Mrs. Christie G. Monroe – SUAREC***• Mr. Orlando Phelps – USDA / AMS• Dr. Gregory Reed – ASU• Ms. Karen Davis – LU***• Mrs. Candace Semien – SUAREC• Dr. Marion Simon – KSU• Mr. Frank Taylor – WCSHG – MS ***• *** denotes graduate of Class I



Collaborating Universities• Alcorn State University• North Carolina A & T State University• Prairie View A & M University• Kentucky State University• Tuskegee University• Florida A & M University



Collaborating Universities cont.• University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff• South Carolina State University• Lincoln University



Lifelong Learning• BS – Early Childhood Education and

Sociology (Dec. 08)• M.S. – PLSS (May 08 )• MBA – Marketing (Oct. 08)• Pursuing B.S. in Agriculture now



You Can Be in the NextClass of the Small Farmer

Agricultural Leadership Institute.Visit Booth 35



Funding

• This project is supported by the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program of the Competitive Grants Program of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, USDA.



Thank you

Q & A

www.suagcenter.com

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