Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program - Life Long Learning Opportunities

This area is used to post Life Long Learning Opportunities available in the agriculture, agri-food and rural sectors.

Click here to view the Rural Ontario Institute's listing of events, workshops and seminars that are currently being offered by, or coordinated though, the Rural Ontario Institute.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Attached is an agenda and registration form for the Women in Agri-Business Symposium to be held in Guelph on Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Please circulate to others who you think may be interested.

Background: The Canadian Consulate in Minneapolis has been instrumental in arranging for several women from Canada to participate in the American Agri-Women (AAW) Convention in November 2007, 2008 and 2009 as members of panel discussions on agricultural issues and trade. American Agri-Women officially began in November 1974 founded by four state women’s agriculture groups which had previously organized. Today, AAW has 50 state and commodity affiliate organizations as well as individual members throughout the country, representing tens of thousands of women involved in agricultural businesses.

Following the 2008 AAW Convention, the concept of organizing a similar organization or annual meeting in Canada began to form. Subsequently, four Ontario women were invited to participate in Syngenta Crop Protection’s “Leadership at Its Best” program as members of the AAW contingent. They were:

- Brenda Lammens – asparagus grower, Chair of the Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board, and former Chair of Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Assoc.

- Denise Zaborowski – Manager, Domestic Marketing Unit, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

- Angela Stiles – former Executive Director, Agricultural Adaptation Council

- Susan Fitzgerald – operates Fitzgerald & Co., which manages agricultural associations and provides project management services.

Upon our return from the Leadership training program, we saw a need to invest in leadership and business skills specifically for Ontario women in rural, agriculture and agri-food business sectors. As we discussed this with other women in agriculture, we were very surprised by the level of need there appears to be for women to network with others in the industry.

Rather than focusing on a women’s group to deal with agricultural issues, we determined that the best way forward was to focus on an initiative to encourage/foster women in agri-business leadership roles. As a result, we have organized a one-day symposium targeting Canadian women involved in agricultural businesses from farm through to retail and in agricultural leadership roles either within an association/company/agency or on Boards and Committees (men may attend too!).

We hope you will join us!

The George Morris Centre is now accepting applications for their 2010-2011 EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, designed exclusively for Agri-Food Professionals.

The Executive Development Program (EDP) offers a practical, custom-designed approach to executive training.

Click here for more information and an application form.

LINKS

CANADIAN YOUNG SPEAKERS FOR AGRICULTURE

“Do you like a challenge?” “Would you like to share your enthusiasm for agriculture with an interested audience?” “Does the opportunity to win a substantial cash prize appeal to you?” “Are you 11 to 24 years old?” If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may be interested in participating in the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition, held annually in November at the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Toronto, as part of Youth Weekend. It’s an opportunity to develop your public speaking skills and a forum to express community concerns. The competition originated in 1985 in honour of International Youth Year, and was originally sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Farm Credit Canada joined as a co-sponsor in 1987. There are cash prizes for the six finalists in both the Junior Competition (ages 11-15) and Senior Competition (ages 16-24). The Senior Champion will receive $1000, while the Junior Champion is awarded $500.

Topics for this year’s competition are:

- Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame - profile someone and share their impact
- Who will feed the world in 50 years?
- What is the biggest challenge in agriculture today?
- Exploring First Nationals agriculture in Canada
- What are the biggest events in Canadian agricultural history

For an application, rules and further details Click Here

Do you operate a small-scale farm? Have your say! The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is researching the labour needs on farms with less than $100,000 in gross receipts. Your responses will be used to better understand employment needs of smaller farms and will ensure that operations from across Canada are represented in the research.

Go to www.cahrc-ccrha.ca or call CAHRC at 1-866-430-7457 ext. 228 to complete the survey by phone. All respondents can enter for a chance to win $100

About CAHRC: The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) was created to address human resource issues facing agricultural businesses across Canada. CAHRC works with industry leaders, governments, and education stakeholders to research, develop and communicate solutions to the challenges in agriculture employment and skills development

agribusiness eCampus - Life-long learning in agribusiness management and entrepreneurism: The ABeCampus is a web-based and face-to-face network hub for agribusiness management and entrepreneurism knowledge and information. The ABeCampus brings together educators, government, non-government, and industry associations to create a unique partnership network, providing farmers and producers with direct access to business management tools: information, resources, training and networking anytime, anywhere. Visit www.agribusinessecampus.com

AgriSuccess Workshops are offered by Farm Credit Canada - Where do you want your operation to be in five years? Do you know how to get there? Find out with AgriSuccess workshops. In each workshop, you'll focus on a specific farm management skill that you can use in your operation. For workshop dates and locations and registration information click here

Farm Credit Canada also offers a number of other Learning Events. For a listing of upcoming Ontario events click here.

Do YOU Have What it Takes to Become a Leader? The objective of the Nuffield Canada Farming Scholarship is to develop leadership from within Canada's rural industries, communities and from the practices of agriculture. If you are involved in farming or an agriculture-related industry and feel it's time to step back and take a look at the bigger picture on a worldwide scale, then being awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship could be just the challenge you need. Why not look at things from a different perspective. Each year, Nuffield Canada grants limited scholarships to a few applicants who are Canadian citizens, between 25 and 45, and who already work in agriculture. This group includes farmers, foresters, growers, farm managers and anyone with an influence in these fields. Selected applicants are those the Selection Committee feel will be able to contribute and innovate within their respective fields upon their return to Canada. For more information visit: www.nuffield.ca 2011 Nuffield Farming Scholarship Applications


			Thursday, September 02, 2010