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Agriculture leadership training offered

The Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii has opened recruitment for its new class of leadership training. Applicants statewide are sought for the 16-month Agricultural Leadership Program geared for promising leaders from Hawaii’s agricultural, natural resources management and rural community sectors. Recruitment information and application forms are posted at agleaderhi.org.

The application deadline is July 2. The program will commence in September and conclude in December. The foundation will hold an informational meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 9 at Christ Church Episcopal’s community center, 81-1004 Konawaena School Road, Kealakekua. Call Garrett Webb at 960-3650 for more information. Program leaders will be at the meeting to answer questions and discuss details and personal experiences relating to the Agricultural Leadership Program.

The program is composed of a series of six seminars and a two-week national trip. The four-day seminars are held around the state about every eight weeks. The core curriculum includes training in group process, facilitation and strategic planning led by Donna Ching, of the University of Hawaii. Educational field trips to farms, ranches, aquaculture and ag-forestry businesses, nurseries, watershed protection areas, cultural projects and other rural community endeavors are also essential to the program. The national trip includes one week in Washington to study national and international issues, and one week in another state of the class’ choice to be exposed to agricultural and rural community systems.

Tuition is $4,000, which is roughly one-quarter of the estimated value of the program. Scholarships are available for applicants with financial hardships.

For more information, visit agleaderhi.org or contact the foundation’s executive director, Kim Coffee-Isaak, at 947-2914 or kim@agleaderhi.org.