GreenStone is always looking for more ways to support leadership education for the agriculture industry, that’s why when we learned that the Michigan AgCore’s mission aligns with our core values we took the opportunity to support them.
The Michigan AgCore program gives agriculture enthusiasts the opportunity to develop and learn more leadership qualities.
Jody E. Pollok-Newsom is one of the creators of the Michigan AgCore program and Executive Director of the Michigan Wheat Program, with the help from the directors of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, and the Michigan Soybean Committee they were able to build this program together.
Pollok-Newsom mentioned the intent of the program was to help potential board members gain skills that will help them handle different situations that may arise. That is when they came up with the idea of offering a program that specializes in the development of communication, organization, relationships, and engagement skills.
“We just started plugging along to develop a program that we really thought would not only help us but could also help some of our board members and even some of the younger folks that are coming up and taking over their family farms,” Pollok-Newsom says. “We call it the Michigan AgCore because it’s the communication, organization, relationships and engagement, which we really felt those were key areas that folks needed to be involved in.”
Within the year long program participants are able to expand their knowledge in public speaking, human resources, legal topics, and personal development. Each skill will help prepare them for running their day-to-day operation.
This course has been going on for three years, and each year they have evolved from the year before. This year they are offering the unique opportunity to go to the capital to visit with legislators. Using the skills, they have developed throughout the course, participants will feel more comfortable with the opportunity to speak publicly and voice their concerns.
“Agriculture is shrinking, and we need to make sure that we have folks on the boards of committees. We need to make sure that we have folks on road commissions, as county commissioners, involved in government, and even on your ag organization boards, you know like wheat, soybeans, and potatoes. We want to make sure that they feel comfortable to apply and participate,” Pollok-Newsom advocates. “So hopefully this gives them that stronger base and that extra confidence boost that they're like, ‘yeah, I'm gonna involve get involved, my voice is important, and I have something to say.’”
Getting involved is one of GreenStone’s CoreFour values, which is why some of our members have taken the opportunity to participate in this program to help develop and build their skills.
GreenStone is excited to partner with programs like the Michigan AgCORE that support the growth of agriculture. If you would like to check out the Michigan AgCORE program, feel free to visit Mi Ag Core - MI Ag Core. Learn more about our community outreach and engagement efforts by visiting Open Fields Blog | GreenStone FCS.
