After spending two years learning about Georgia’s largest industry and developing leadership skills, the inaugural class of Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry has graduated from the program.
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences faculty launched Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry, or AGL, in 2012. The program is designed to educate and empower Georgia’s agricultural and natural resource industry leaders to become effective advocates for the largest economic drivers in Georgia-the state’s agricultural and forestry industries.
Thirteen industry leaders spent the last two years touring farms and processing plants, traveling throughout the state and across the nation. They also spent two weeks in India learning about Georgia agriculture’s role in the global economy.
“This class has shared in a journey that has covered many counties in Georgia, multiple states and a foreign country,” said Elliot Marsh, a precision agriculture coordinator at Southern States Cooperative and the AGL advisory board chairman. “These graduates already are making an impact in our communities and the state of Georgia. I believe that their experiences will play a tremendous role in Georgia’s agriculture community for many years to come.”
Graduates of the first AGL class include Mark Risse, the UGA Georgia Power Professor of Water Resources and director of the UGA Marine Extension Service; Brent Allen, UGA Extension in Washington County; Brandon Ashley, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation; Sarah Cook, Center of Innovation for Agribusiness; Steven Gibson, CAES Business Office; Jennifer Harris, White Oak Pastures; Jutt Howard, North Georgia Turf; Jesse Johnson, Southern Land Exchange; Duane Myers, Kroger; Tate Izlar O’Rouke, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s Office; Amanda Tedrow, UGA Extension in Clarke County; Rebecca Thomas, UGA Extension in Chattooga County; and Derick Wooten, Rocky Hammock Farms.