DELAWARE — In a bid to strengthen leadership within the food, fiber, and natural resources sectors, LEADelaware has selected 12 fellows from Delaware’s agriculture industry. These fellows will embark on a two-year journey to hone their leadership skills and contribute meaningfully to the state’s number one industry.
The selected fellows emerged from the second-largest applicant pool in the program’s history. “With 21 applicants, these 12 fellows really rose to the top throughout the selection process for Class VII,” said LEADelaware Co-Director Chris Brosch. “This class represents all three counties and includes educators, growers, poultry and specialty crop producers, individuals involved in food access, and agency employees.”
Included in the 2024-2026 LEADelaware Fellows are representatives from Mule Run Farms, Food Bank of Delaware, Delaware Cooperative Extension, Growmark FS, Insight Crop Scouting, LLC, Pint Family Farms/DNREC, DNREC, L & L Farms, Odyssey Charter School, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
After a two-year hiatus, LEADelaware is excited to resume the program, focusing not only on leadership and experience within Delaware’s agriculture and natural resources but also on addressing issues that challenge the sustainability of agriculture. The program offers unique learning opportunities, including site visits, seminars, team activities, workshops, and an international agriculture study trip in 2025.
Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, Michael T. Scuse highlighted the importance of the program, stating, “Agriculture is Delaware’s number one industry, providing more than 69,000 jobs and nearly $10.3 billion of economic activity. The LEADelaware graduates play an integral role in communicating and promoting the importance of agriculture to the communities and industries throughout our state.”
LEADelaware’s alumni are invited to meet the new fellows at Delaware Ag Week on January 9, 2024. The event will provide an opportunity for the alumni to learn about the plans for Class VII and discuss opportunities for further engagement.
LEADelaware is a collaboration between the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Delaware Department of Agriculture. It aims to cultivate future leaders in agriculture, natural resources, and sustainability. For program details, visit http://sites.udel.edu/leadelaware.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.