Seeing both sides of the coin
Leadership program focuses on agricultural industry
By Codi Vallery for Tri-State Livestock News
“You forget sometimes that you are learning,” said veterinarian Penny Dye. Dye is part of South Dakota Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc. (SDARL), a program designed to educate and create leaders in rural and agricultural communities.
In the later part of the 90s the South Dakota Livestock Foundation met to discuss the need for an educational program for people in agriculture and its related industries. The result was SDARL.
SDARL is a two-year program composed of individuals from all over the state of South Dakota. They are farmers, ranchers, agri- business professionals, veterinarians and men and women who are interested in the livelihood of South Dakota.
The program covers a variety of topics including: interpersonal development, understanding political processes at the state and national level, agricultural issues, alternatives, and production, leadership, and many, many more valuable topics.
Those that participate in the class attend approximately twelve seminars which take place throughout SD, a week-long national seminar in Washington, D.C. and a two-week long study travel overseas. A total of 50-55 days is required of the class members over the two years.
It seems like a lot of time but current class members assure me that it is easy to manage and well worth it.
“It [the program] helps you to see today’s problems with a wider view. It is easy to put on blinders, but the sessions you attend help you to take them off and see the big picture,” said Kenny McFarland, a cattle rancher from Piedmont, SD who is currently in Class II.
The seminars and travel are organized by Dan Gee, former South Dakota State University Animal Science Professor and now the Executive Director of SDARL.
“Dan does a great job of lining up speakers for us,” said Dye, who is also a Class II member.
A highlight for many in the group was the national seminar where they meet with legislators, and partook in small group seminars dealing with organizations, like Environmental Protection Agency and the Farm Animal Reform Movement.
“It has been said that you learn more from your adversary than your advocate,” said McFarland. In the case of the small group seminars many of the class members found themselves visiting people of opposite view points.
Gee said one of the class goals is to see both sides of an issue, ultimately making the class better informed and aware of the topics at hand.
Also during the Washington trip is the visit to Shepherd Elementary, an inner city elementary school.
Designated Farmers Day when the SDARL group comes for a visit, the school children are introduced to the people who grow their food.
The focus of the day is for the children to learn where their food comes from and to learn what careers are available for them in the agricultural sector.
SDARL members bring photos of family, farm equipment, livestock and small souvenirs from back home to introduce the kids to South Dakota and agriculture.
“The school is overjoyed to have us come and talk to the kids,” said Gee. “They don’t have this type of opportunity to talk about agriculture all the time.”
Looked at as a two-way street members of SDARL have taken away as much from the elementary experience as they take in.
“They are great kids who were there to learn,” said Scott Phillips, Class II member from New Underwood. “They were just regular kids in a different setting.”
The SDARL program is educational and intense but Gee said the members get time to relax and play too. Some site seeing does come into play during the Washington seminar and the two week overseas travel study.
The overseas trip for Class II will be in February and class members are excited to be travelling to the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
The group will have three homestays where they live with a farm family for an afternoon, evening and part of a morning.
Gee said the group is gearing up to discuss and tackle issues like BSE, Foot and Mouth, and Genetically Modified Organisms with the locals while overseas.
Earmarked by class members as being a very diversified and dynamic group, Dye, McFarland and Phillips agree the program is more than they expected it would be.
The three enjoy the structure of the group and said everyone is gets involved in the seminars. Gee said the networking and bonding that goes on within the group over the course of the program is a huge benefit many of the alumni have found useful in their careers.
Applications for Class III of SDARL will start being accepted this coming January and will close at the end of March. Those interested are encouraged to visit the programs on-line site at sdarl.sdstate.org or contact one of the participants from Class I or II.