Small farmer leadership training program meets at Ag Center

Dawn Mellion-Patin addresses a session of the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Training Institute held in October at the Southern University Ag Center.

Producers from various states have been selected to participate in the second round of the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Training Institute program. The new set of producers gathered at the Southern University Ag Center, October 11-13 for an introductory session. Each brings unique experience, expertise as well as expectations. The sessions consisted of "Leadership Survey", roundtable discussions, campus tour, experience sharing, and tour of New Orleans.

The 1890 System developed the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Training Institute to address the needs of small-scale minority farmers. This two-year course of study guides small, limited-resource and minority farmers through the process of becoming more competitive agricultural entrepreneurs.

The overriding goal of the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Training Institute is to promote the sustainability of small family farms through enhanced business management skills and leadership development.

The past leadership institute took the majority of the participants from being just small producers through the mindset of being great producers with limited acreage, herds or holdings.

The SU Ag Center is collaborating with the Southern University Law Center, Alcorn State University - Small Farm Development Center, Prairie View A & M University - Cooperative Extension Program and North Carolina A & T State University - Cooperative Extension Program to bring the Institute to the farmers in various locations.

The program is coordinated by Dawn Mellion-Patin, associate specialist, agriculture and project director. This project is supported by the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.