Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii Leadership Program Overview

Scope of Training & Curriculum

Program Co-Directors

Need for Leadership

Impact of Program

Current Class

Current Class Schedule

Alumni

Success Stories

Secure Alumni Site

Recruitment Information for Next Class

ALP Class XIII Blog

"This program has clarified and defined my vision of what can be with regards to initiating collaboration on many different levels to help Hawaii Ag grow on solid ground. "

Lani Weigert,
Class XI

"It is definitely a program that gives back what you put into it . . . It is a program that gives you the tools but you must be ready to learn, not just be an observer or follower. "

Luisa Castro,
Class XII

". . . I am grateful that ALFH has the ability to position its participants in places that allow for maximum exposure to facilitating decisions that range from the daily squabble at work all the way up to the very significant process of passing legislation that can affect generations to come. "

Mike Poteet,
Class XI

"Hawaiian agriculture faces many challenges, but none as threatening as our inability to organize into a cohesive force and single voice . . . If you are a farmer, rancher, landscaper, or agricultural business person; the best investment you will ever make is the time you spend as a student in the Agricultural Leadership Program."

Mark Cummings,
Class X

Agricultural Leadership Training Program

The Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP) is for promising leaders from Hawai‘i’s agriculture, natural resources management and rural community sectors. By combining strong leadership development content with exposure to organizations, agricultural operations and community networks, participants have an opportunity to understand the complex relationships that create challenges which demand innovative thinking and collaborative decision making for leaders in this State.

Through this Program, leaders will develop the knowledge, relationships, tools and skills that will enable them to be more successful in their work and all community endeavors. This Program trains individuals who have already demonstrated a commitment to lead in their line of work or community activities and is not a training program in farm production.

For the past 27 years the program has been coordinated by Dr. Donna Ching, an Extensions Specialist at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), at the University of Hawai‘i. In anticipation of Dr. Ching’s eventual retirement ALFH brought on Pauline Sato as the Program Director. Ms Sato and Dr. Ching will work together for the next class to ensure a smooth transition of the program.

Hawai‘i’s future depends on urban and rural communities working together because the economic vitality of agriculture and rural communities has reverberating effects throughout our entire society. A healthy watershed is not only important for environmental sustainability but also contributes significantly to the economic success of diversified agriculture across the state. If we as a community maintain that a healthy thriving sustainable agricultural sector is an important piece of Hawai‘i’s overall future we must continue to support those who will help us get there. We need strong, effective voices helping to show the way.

The next Class will commence in September of 2010 and graduate December 2011. Class XII recently completed two successful years of activities.

In the past 27 years over 125 alumni have participated in our Agricultural Leadership Training Program. Our alumni are located across the state and are involved in a myriad of agricultural endeavors; including small crop farmers (organic, floral, tropical nuts & fruits, etc), large commodity producers (livestock, coffee, sugar, pineapple, etc), Ag Tourism ventures, non-profit administrators, university professors and researchers and government leaders. We are expanding our program reach to include Natural Resource Mangers because of the growing need for these groups to work together.

One of the significant benefits of the program are the strong networks formed within each class. Our alumni are a major resource for the program, providing site visits, lectures, hospitality and ongoing financial support.

ALP Class XIII Blog