Advocacy program taught me to make a difference
By JennyHoltermann “Great leaders don’t set out tobe a lead- er; they set out tomake a difference,” says famed lifecoachandmotivational speaker LisaHaisha. Indeed, the jobof a leader is to
sometimes our differences that uniteus to make our voices impactful. There is also a fourth module where the class typically travels internationally to focus on an agricultural issue. Our class studied tradeandsustainabilityduring the two-yearprogram.Wedove intoagricultur- al issues and how they impacted our farm or ranch. Focusing on our storytelling and creativemessages allowed our class to ex- plorealternatives throughout theprogram. With a variety of learning platforms, each individual finds what delivers their message strongest. By learning to pro- duce videos, engage with policymakers, performmedia interviews, participate on policy panels, testify in legislative settings and build relationships, we all have a spe- cific and uniquely impactful experience. At the end of the program, you grow strength in your message, your delivery and your voice. In 20 to 30 years from now, if you look backonyour successes,will therebea long list of resume-building awards and posi- tions?Orwill youhavea teamof impactful peopleyoumet along theway thatmolded you as a leader? Perhaps it will be both. Are youbraveenough to take the leap to invest inyour own leadershipgrowth?You maybesurprisedat themanywaysyouwill grow. And youmay evenmake some new friends along theway. People in good standing with their county Farm Bureau may apply for the PAL program before Feb. 28. Details are avai lable at fb.org/programs/ pal-partners-in-advocacy-leadership/. ( Jenny Hol termann is an almond grower in Kern County and a graduate of the American Farm Bureau Federation Par tne r s in Advo cac y Leade r ship program. She may be contacted at jenny@holtermann-ag.com.)
Participants in the 2019-21 American Farm Bureau Federation Partners in Advocacy Leadership pro- gram gather in Washington, D.C.
growmore leaders. If you help others grow, you will find yourself inagrowth experience as well. Wha t do y ou want your differ- ence to be? Maybe you imagine your difference as be- ing the next great thing. Youmay see it in the hope for
Jenny Holtermann
the future or merely the smile you see in someone else’s eyes. You may strive to make a difference purely fromlonging for fulfillment or the satisfaction of watching your hardwork pay off—or youmay want to build a legacy. Everyone has a “why” that drives them to do more and pushes them forward. If this isyou, andif youaresomeonewho wants toamakeadifference inagriculture, here are some questions to consider: Do you have a passion for advocating? Are you ready to make an impact in your industry? Are you actively engaging with your elected officials? Do you currently hold a leadership position within Farm Bureau, YoungFarmers&Ranchers or an- other agricultural organization? Do you engage in public outreach efforts? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then maybe you are an agricultural leader ready toaccelerateyour engagement abilitiesandsolidifyyour role as a powerful advocate for agriculture. In2019, I took that step forward through the American Farm Bureau Federation’s
Partners inAdvocacyLeadershipprogram, orPAL. I embarkedonapersonal develop- ment journey alongwithnine other farm- ers and ranchers from across the nation. The two-year programoffers a high-level, executive-style course that provides par- ticipantswithstimulatingopportunities to represent agriculture in themedia, public speaking and othermeans. In four modules, the PAL program explores your core competencies in self-awareness, industry knowledge, mes- sage development and delivery, policy engagement, and interpersonal skills. The first module takes you toNewYork City to study consumer behavior and habits, as youalsoembarkonajourneyof self-aware- ness and enhancing communication. Walking into a room with nine other farmers from across the nation and four coaches canbe intimidating. Once you let your guard down, you build relationships with like-minded individuals and open yourself up for constructive criticism. There is also something about being in New York City itself that helps you ex-
plore and recognize your own personal strengths and communication styles. Thesecondmodulebrought our class to Washington,D.C. Thispolicyengagement trip isnot thenormal legislative andagen- da-pushing visit. We did research on the policy process and immerged ourselves into regulatory issues. We also focused on building relationshipswithour electedof- ficials and their teams. You never know where those relation- ships will take you or whom they may in- vite you to meet months later. You might just find yourself speaking in front of the President of the United States of America, sharing your farm story. The relation- ship-buildingaspectofpolicyengagement is imperative to success and long-term strength for your leadership. Iwashesitant about this but found that it works. The thirdmodule focuses on interper- sonal skillsandbuilding relationshipswith influential stakeholders. PAL emphasizes techniques to find common ground with stakeholders of differing viewpoints. We may not always see eye to eye, but it is
VOL. 49, NO. 7
February 16, 2022
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