WHO WE ARE
THE CLASS
Committed to investing in human capital, major companies have spent millions of dollars in leadership development. Although these companies have been developing leaders at an ever-increasing speed, the call to create and nurture the leadership skills of agricultural and rural individuals has largely been unheard.
Answering this call, the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP) develops and enhances the leadership capabilities of diverse men and women committed to the future of Colorado’s agricultural and rural communities.
Coaxing a living from the land, providing rural community products and services, agricultural and rural people have significantly contributed to Colorado’s tapestry. CALP enriches this culture through a hands-on, interactive program dedicated to producing graduates with the vision and commitment to lead change and ensure the sustainability of Colorado’s agricultural economies and rural communities.
WHAT WE DO
OUR PROGRAM
CALP and its supporters recruit enthusiastic Coloradoans committed to agriculture and rural Colorado. They should be recognized as emerging leaders who are directly involved in agriculture, agribusiness, rural industries, rural communities or natural resource management.
Individuals may be in the early or middle phase of their leadership career, and are looking for that next level of training or experience. CALP provides practical, applied experiences similar to graduate school. The CALP program will be a unique lifetime experience for each participant.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program will utilize the best of its own alumni combined with outstanding speakers from throughout the state, business world and public arena to create and present a premier leadership development program centered on travel/study experiences, group discussions and individual project application of skills learned.
Delivered over a two year period, CALP strengthens effective agricultural leaders who reflect Colorado’s diverse population by developing leader in areas such as communication and technology, social issues and cultural diversity, coalition building, resource management and government policy to name a few.
With guidance from the CALP advisory committee, key partners and sponsors, the program will be a unique lifetime experience for each participant.
DYNAMIC CURRICULUM
Program participants commit to nine travel/study seminars and the completion of an individual project over a two-year period. Seminars will be scheduled at least one month apart. The first year focuses primarily on the state of Colorado and the initiation of an individual project, which typically focuses on building capacity or abilities in a participant’s home community or organization. The second year consists of out-of-state travel and the completion of the individual, self-paced project, to be presented at graduation. Each seminar has its own theme and includes tours in the area of the seminar, networking with local leaders and decision-makers.
TWO-YEAR SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Once selected, a participant agrees to provide $3,500 of the tuition cost to CALP. It is suggested that $1,500 be paid directly by the participant or by his/her business or employer. The remaining $2,000 will raised via fundraising by the participant from local organizations and businesses in his/her home community.