Michael Cashwell, Lake County resident and owner of Garden Ave. Development graduated from Class XI of the prestigious UF/IFAS Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (WLIANR) on Thursday, July 28, capping a multi-year program of learning.
Graduation marks the completion of a three-year leadership development experience focused on agricultural and natural resources issues. Class XI participants attended 12 multi-day seminars throughout Florida, a 10-day national seminar to Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and Kentucky and more than two weeks in Portugal and Morocco as a final capstone experience. These sessions amounted approximately 60 days of leadership development. Typical WLIANR classes span two years, but this year’s graduates continued their commitment by an additional year to fulfill graduation requirements due to the impacts of Covid-19.
During each leadership seminar, class members toured agricultural operations, learned from local business leaders, and critically examined the breadth of issues facing leaders at all levels. Class members gained advanced skills in communication, interpersonal leadership development, decision-making and problem-solving.
Graduates of WLIANR are poised to take on increasing leadership roles, and dedicated to finding solutions to issues that shape the future of Florida’s agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.
“Florida’s future depends on preparing leaders to address complex challenges,” said J. Scott Angle, the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, or UF/IFAS.
“What makes WLIANR special is that it fosters leaders willing to take on these challenges, to engage with people who see things differently and find the common ground that leads to solutions,” Angle said.
Applications for the next class will open in the late spring of 2023. For more information about the program, contact Christy Chiarelli at ccw@ufl.edu
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About the UF/IFAS Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Founded in 1992, WLIANR is celebrating 30 years of developing leaders in Florida. The program has graduated 11 classes and boasts more than 300 alumni.
The intent of the program is to develop and refine the leadership capabilities of leaders who, in turn, will be prepared to become increasingly involved in policy formation – be it policy that directly applies to all segments of Florida agriculture and natural resources, or public policy that will affect the future of Florida agriculture and natural resources either in a direct or indirect manner.
The program is designed for people working within agriculture and natural resources who have experienced leadership roles and aspire for greater leadership responsibilities in the private and/or public sectors at the community, state, national, or international levels.
