Northumberland Supervisor Bill Peck
addresses the UHALF 2007 class about local and county government and land use issues.

Still Time to Apply for the Upper Hudson Agricultural Leadership Forum
Extended Deadline for Applications – December 8, 2008

The Upper Hudson Agricultural Leadership Forum (UHALF) is a leadership program to provide a platform for agricultural producers and professionals to develop and expand their leadership abilities and understanding of the food and agricultural industry in the Capital District area and New York State. Through a series of workshops, participants will be educated and provided the tools to enable them to effectively communicate and influence local lawmakers and the media about the importance of the Ag industry.

Participant’s skills and knowledge will be enhanced in the areas of communication, networking, effective meetings, ag policy, and demographic trends and economic impact for the food and agricultural industry.

Objectives of the UHALF program are to give participants hands on experience to develop and improve their leadership, communication, and networking skills. They will also become empowered to become involved in a broad range of policy issues facing the industry at the local and state level.  Participants will increase their understanding of the food and agricultural industry in the areas of processing, distribution, marketing, and land issues.

UHALF begins in January 2009 and continues through April 2009 with multiple sessions consisting of day programs and will be conducted at various locations in the Saratoga, Washington, Rensselaer, and Albany County.  Tentative session topics include Time and Meeting Management, Local Agricultural Policy, Influencing Agricultural Policy, People Types and Personality Styles, Communication Skill Development, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Wholesale and Retail Marketing, Production Agriculture and Land Use Issues and a Graduation.

Graduates will at the completion of the program be able to effectively run meetings, be effective board members, lobby for agricultural issues and improved their leadership skills when working with agriculture employees.

Agricultural producers and professionals from the Greater Capital District and Upper Hudson region will be accepted to the UHALF program. Application deadline is now December 8. Tuition for the program is $150 and includes 1 breakfast, 8 lunches, bus trip, and program materials.  Saratoga County Farm Bureau members are eligible for tuition assistance.  Washington County Farm Bureau members can contact the Washington County Farm Bureau Board about tuition assistance.

To receive more information or an application, visit the www.aedpws.org and click on the Upper Hudson Leadership Forum link or contact Paula Schafer at 885-8995, 746-2560 or pjb11@cornell.edu.
 
UHALF is funded by the American Agriculturist Foundation, Inc. and sponsored by American Farmland Trust, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga and Washington Counties, and Farm Bureau.