UK launches new undergraduate certificate in agricultural leadership

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2024) — To meet the needs of tomorrow’s workforce, the University of Kentucky Martin Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) is offering a certificate in agricultural leadership. Starting in Spring of 2025, the new certificate aims to create a pathway for students seeking to enter the agriculture industry by teaching transdisciplinary skills through leadership development and hands-on experiences.

Bill Gatton, who bestowed a transformational $100 million gift through The Bill Gatton Foundation in 2023, believed that experiential learning is the foundation for helping students open doors for success and create breakthroughs in their lives.

“Students will see how having a foundation in leadership, teamwork and collaboration are transferable skills towards advancing in the agriculture industry and beyond. Leading, serving and supporting are all critical skills no matter where you are and where you are going,” said Savannah Robin, Ed.D., lecturer for career and professional development within the Department of Agricultural Economics at Martin-Gatton CAFE. “The electives are transdisciplinary, making them accessible and value adding, setting up students to be successful in many areas.”

This 12-credit hour certificate is open to all students and majors, focusing on creating well-rounded individuals for any industry. Students are required to complete three core courses in leadership foundations, experience and applications. Additionally, students must satisfy two courses from a suite of available electives; one in leadership and another related to communications. 

The first core course in agricultural leadership foundations will be offered asynchronously. It will help develop students’ individual leadership abilities, team collaboration, conflict management and other skills through the agricultural lens. The agriculture leadership experience course gives students the opportunity to apply their leadership skills to a semester-long leadership experience such as an internship or volunteering.

“We want to work with students to curate a valuable leadership experience that will allow them to get the most out of the certificate,” said Emily Roe Brown, Kentucky Agricultural Leadership Program coordinator. “This program is designed to empower students to see themselves as change agents.”

In the third core course in leadership applications, students will take part in a case study-based capstone course. Students can apply their skills by interacting with industry employers and leaders and generating solution strategies for current agriculture issues.

Available leadership electives include courses in agriculture, equine or environmental law, human resource management, agriculture and food policy, government and public policy, community leadership, and more. Communication electives include agricultural product marketing and sales, professional development in agriculture, community media writing, multimedia writing, persuasive speaking and more.

Upon completion of the certificate, students will have stronger skills in project management, critical thinking, problem solving, communication and information processing.

“We will explore leadership styles to help you determine how to apply skills in different situations,” Brown said. “We want to equip you to be a dynamic leader and team player.”

To learn more and to apply to the Agricultural Leadership Certificate at Martin-Gatton CAFE, visit https://www.uky.edu/academics/undergraduate-certificate/martin-gatton-college-agriculture-food-environment/agricultural-leadership.