The nonprofit Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii is seeking the next cohort for its leadership program.
The ALFH's Agriculture Leadership Program runs for 14 months from September 2023 to November 2024, with participants attending a series of travel seminars including a two-week trip to Washington D.C. and a state of the cohort's choosing.
“This program helps participants develop their path toward becoming the innovative problem-solvers and leaders that are critically needed in Hawaii today,” said Christine Brammer, ALFH 's executive and program director.
The program consists of six interisland trips and a 12-day Mainland trip divided between Washington D.C. and a state of the cohort's choice.
Within Hawaii, travel will include visits to farms, ranches, aquaculture and ag-forestry businesses on four islands: Hawaii Island, Oahu, Kauai and Maui, according to the nonprofit's website.
Program participants also will learn about national agricultural policies and issues, and meet with Hawaii's Congressional delegation and administrators within the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C.
ALFH was founded in 1982 to help Hawaii respond to a shift away from plantation agriculture, according to the nonprofit's press release. To date, its leadership program has graduated almost 200 leaders.
Tuition for the program is $7,500, which is about a fourth of the estimated cost of the program, according to the press release from the nonprofit. Applicants are encouraged to work with businesses and organizations to pay the tuition. A limited number of partial scholarships are also available.
Priority is given to applicants who work in agriculture or natural resource management professionals working closely with agricultural communities. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or green card holders with a commitment to remain in Hawaii.
Applications are due June 15. For more information, go to agleaderhi.org.
