Four South Georgians graduate from peanut leadership Academy

TIFTON – Four South Georgia peanut farmers have received their graduation certificates from Class IX of the Peanut Leadership Academy.

Included in the class are Bubba Curry, of Shellman; Jeff Heard, of Newton; Meredith Rogers, of Camilla, and Austin Warbington, of Pinehurst. The class graduated 19 members from peanut-producing states.

The Peanut Leadership Academy is a cooperative effort between Syngenta Crop Protection, the American Peanut Shellers Association and grower organizations. The program began in 1998 with the first class of 14 peanut growers from Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Since then, the academy has grown to include growers from Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia and sheller representatives.

“This program has helped Syngenta to build relationships with our growers, help the peanut industry develop their own leadership and allowed our company a chance to better serve the needs of our growers and the peanut industry,” Mike Wood, Syngenta technical sales representative, said. “Just as growers reinvest in their land through fertility and conservation practices, the Peanut Leadership Academy has afforded Syngenta an opportunity to reinvest in an industry that will help it be sustainable and valuable to the rural farming economy, as well as the environment for all.”

During the program, participants are taught how to become more effective spokespeople for the peanut industry, develop industry relationships and further grow their leadership skills. Five sessions take place throughout the 18 month class and require approximately 20 days of travel. During the sessions, activities are structured to give participants a thorough understanding of the U.S. peanut industry and include field trips, meetings with industry leaders and professional development training. Each class also has one leadership session in Washington, D.C. where participants have an opportunity to visit with members of Congress on issues affecting the peanut industry.

In addition to the Georgia members, the class included, Brian Byrd, Jeremy Sessions, Marshall Speake and Russ Walters, all from Alabama; Levi Findley, Dexter Gilbert, Jeremy Rolling and Trey Sanchez, all from Florida; B. Jones, of Mississippi; Wade Stanaland, of North Carolina; Kelton Coleman, of Texas; West Drake, of Virginia, and sheller representatives Paul Huber and Japheth Saecker, both with Birdsong Peanuts, and Colton Farrow, with Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts.

For more information on the Peanut Leadership Academy, visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. Applications for Class X are due Sept. 1.