CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 06/08/22

UGA selects new cohort of Georgia agriculture and forestry leaders

By Jordan Powers
The AGL cohort of 2019-2021 gather during their federal policy institute on the front steps of a columned building in Washington, D.C.
AGL Class 2019-2021 outside of the Georgia State Capitol Building during their third institute titled Effective Communication: State Government, Economic Development and Innovation.

From fruit producers to financial professionals, the newest cohort of the Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry (AGL) program was chosen from a broad field of applicants to the innovative, 18-month leadership development program.

The 2022-24 cohort of 25 participants was selected from more than 90 nominations, 60 applications and 40 interviews for the AGL program, which is offered by the Office of Learning and Organizational Development (OLOD) in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia.

AGL has had more than 90 graduates since 2014, when it transitioned from the independent AgriLeaders program, which ran from 1989 through 2009 and has more than 325 alumni, according to Lauren Griffeth, program director for AGL and UGA Cooperative Extension leadership specialist.

“Each time a class is selected, I am amazed at the amount of scientific knowledge, professionalism and work ethic that each person brings into the program,” Griffeth said. “It is our challenge at the University of Georgia to keep these professionals stretching to set new goals and to provide them specialized tools for their success.”

Participants, who are professionals working in agriculture, forestry and allied sectors in Georgia, complete five Georgia-based institutes, a Washington, D.C., federal policy institute, and an optional capstone experiential learning trip.

The 2022-24 cohort also will learn more about carbon sequestration and sustainability in all aspects of farming and forestry.

A statewide program with community impact

“The 2022-24 cohort will join a community of graduates from the AGL program who have carried out personal leadership projects that have reached communities far and wide across Georgia ranging from agricultural succession planning in Carroll County, to providing teachers with resources to teach forestry in Bibb County, to mentoring fatherless youth in Colquitt County,” Griffeth said.

The first institute will kick off in late August, focusing on personal leadership development through team building, peer coaching, leadership assessments and professional trainings.

The cohort will move through additional institutes and learning experiences that cover understanding Georgia’s emerging and existing markets, effective communication, state government, economic development, innovation and more before graduating in late March 2024. 

Dusty Engel, AGL ’21, on Mt. Shasta at the FWS Forestry logging operation site in Northern California
Dusty Engel, AGL ’21, on Mt. Shasta at the FWS Forestry logging operation site in northern California.

The 2022-24 AGL cohort

The incoming AGL cohort, listed alphabetically by last name, includes:

  • Jazmond Carter, USDA-NRCS, LaGrange, Georgia
  • Brett Davis, Miller County Gin Company, Albany, Georgia
  • Jed DeZelle, The Westervelt Company, Statesboro, Georgia
  • Megan Green, Evergreen Resource Solutions, LLC, Bishop, Georgia
  • Gordon Grizzle, Green Diamond Management, Perry, Georgia
  • Rawley Hicks, AGCO Corporation Marietta, Georgia
  • Will Hinson, Leger & Son, Inc., Cordele, Georgia
  • Vontice Jackson, USDA-NRCS, Hephzibah, Georgia
  • Kyli Lamar, 1 DOG Ventures, Thomasville, Georgia
  • Liz Maddux, Triangle Chemical Company, Macon, Georgia
  • Robert McLeod, Tidewater Ag & Construction, Tifton, Georgia
  • Taylor Moses, Moses Pecan, Uvalda, Georgia
  • Whitney Murphy, Corteva Agriscience, Statesboro, Georgia
  • Tyler Nessmith, Westway Feed Products, Madison, Georgia
  • Andy Paul, Georgia Agricultural Education, Winterville, Georgia
  • Ryan Phillips, Georgia Forestry Commission, Silver Creek, Georgia
  • Daniel Reddick, AgSouth Farm Credit, Greensboro, Georgia
  • Ryan Reddish, Forest Investment Associates, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Harry Sanders, Sanders Logging Incorporation, Cochran, Georgia
  • Mitchel Sheffield, Staplcotn, Ty Ty, Georgia
  • Dwight Sheppard, F&W Forestry Services, Inc., Albany, Georgia
  • Jake Tench, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Cornelia, Georgia
  • Adam Thornton, Columbia Farms, Canon, Georgia
  • Mallory Tyndal, Carden & Associates, Cordele, Georgia
  • Whitney Zeagler, Planters EMC, Sylvania, Georgia

To learn more about the AGL program, visit caes.uga.edu/agl.

Jordan Powers is the public relations coordinator and writer for UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Jordan Powers
Experts/Sources:
Lauren Ledbetter Griffeth
Kaytlyn Cobb is now spearheading a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm as regional assistant director. CAES News
Kaytlyn Cobb joins UGA Grand Farm to boost agricultural innovation in Georgia 10/30/24 Sean Montgomery
Growing up in north Georgia’s Franklin County, Kaytlyn Cobb knew her aspirations in agriculture would always lead her to new opportunities. Inspired by her dedicated community and diverse background, Cobb is now spearheading a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm as regional assistant director. Hired in August, Cobb hit the ground running to continue development of the fast-forming ecosystem between Grand Farm, the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and global strategic partners.
IMG 0655.remini enhanced CAES News
Farm Boot Camp trains military veterans to start farms 06/12/24 Emily Cabrera
An outreach program offered by the University of Georgia has received federal funding to train military veterans to start their own farms. Farm Boot Camp, a specialized training program for military veterans and their spouses, offers free monthly trainings and specialized workshops to provide essential skills and knowledge needed to start or return to farming operations.
AGL class 2022 24 CAES News
UGA program empowers leaders in Georgia’s agricultural and forestry industries 05/07/24 Jordan Powers
After completing 106 sessions, learning from 122 expert speakers and completing more than 220 hours of educational content over 18 months, 25 leaders in two of Georgia’s largest industries — agriculture and forestry — are prepared to lead their industries thanks to the Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry program. The 2022-24 cohort was selected from more than 90 nominations, 60 applications and 40 interviews for the program, which is offered by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Office of Learning and Organizational Development.
An employee of Pyxus Agriculture Malawi shows a map explaining the various sites where the Feed the Future Peanut Innovation Lab works with 147 local farmers, Pyxus and the national agriculture program in Malawi. The demonstration was part of the 2024 Groundnut Tour in Malawi, a three-day event modeled after the Georgia Peanut Tour. CAES News
Georgia Peanut Tour inspires Malawi to host first groundnut tour 05/01/24 Allison Floyd
Ten years ago, the Georgia Peanut Tour welcomed its first visitor from the southern African nation of Malawi, where peanuts are part of the local cuisine but are only grown in small gardens or bought in informal markets. Over the next decade, visitors from Malawi attended the tour every year, traveling halfway around the world to see how farmers, shellers, researchers and others work together to get a large crop of peanuts to consumers every year.
Warnell professor Kris Irwin (right) helps campers set leaf-litter traps to capture macroinvertebrates, small amphibians and other organisms during Georgia 4-H Natural Resources Exploration Camp at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. CAES News
Georgia 4-H offers new Natural Resources Exploration Camp 10/17/23 Josie Smith, Alyssa Haag
A dozen 4-H’ers from around Georgia were the first explorers to experience Georgia 4-H’s newest summer program — Natural Resources Exploration Camp — and learn about wildlife, forestry, fisheries and other natural resources from University of Georgia faculty.
The fall 2023 Signature Lecture series begins on Sept. 6. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA) CAES News
UGA Signature Lectures to bring nationally recognized speakers to campus 09/04/23 Mike Wooten
The University of Georgia’s fall 2023 Signature Lectures series will feature a broad array of renowned scholars and thought leaders from the worlds of art, literature, law, health care, journalism, government, the sciences and more. “Each semester, this series brings groundbreaking speakers from a wide range of disciplines to campus to share their insights and expertise with faculty, staff, students and members of the Athens community,” said Provost S. Jack Hu.