32nd TCFB Youth Leadership Program Underway

The newest class of the Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Youth Leadership Program was seated in September, and has 25 young adults from throughout the county.

The TCFB’s Youth Leadership Program began in 1983 as a unique opportunity for high school students to develop their leadership skills. Since its inception, the program has trained 605 students. TCFA’s goal is to have juniors from each high school in the county participate in the program. The committee seeks to recruit young adults who have strong potential for developing leadership skills.

Students are not required to have a connection to agriculture or the Farm Bureau, but should demonstrate an interest in developing leadership qualities and be able to take advantage of this program through active participation. Participants must commit to an eight-month program with seminars that focus on county, state and federal government process, visits to university campuses, leadership and team building exercises, participation in an ag careers panel, legislative workshop and community service. The program annually concludes with a Sacramento experience to visit the State Capitol, meet with state elected representatives and agency officials, and tour UC Davis.

The 2016-17 class just began their journey with an overnight trip to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. During the trip the class participated in a team building exercise, received the results of their Myers-Briggs personality assessment tests, and toured the agricultural majors at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

In 2008, the Youth Leadership Program was nationally recognized as one of the top 15 “County Programs of Excellence” by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The TCFB gives special thanks to Suncrest Bank and Land o’ Lakes for their generous support of this year’s program, as major sponsors.

Students interested in this program may apply in the spring by May 1, by visiting the TCFB website www.tulcofb.org. Students apply during the spring of their sophomore year for selection in the fall, when they will become juniors.

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