Southwest Georgia students among UGA cohort of agriculture, forestry leaders

By Jordan Powers
UGA/CAES

ATHENS — From the heart of rural Georgia to downtown Atlanta, the newest cohort of the Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry program at the University of Georgia has been chosen from a broad field of applicants.

The 2025-26 cohort of 25 participants was selected from more than 90 nominations, 70 applications and 40 interviews for the innovative, 18-month leadership development program. AGL is offered by the Office of Learning and Organizational Development in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in partnership with the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Veterinary Medicine.

AGL has had more than 116 graduates since 2014, when it transitioned from the independent AgriLeaders program, which ran from 1989 through 2009 and has more than 334 alumni, according to Lauren Griffeth, program director for AGL and UGA Cooperative Extension leadership specialist.

“One hundred percent of participants in the last class said that the network they gained as a result of the program will be beneficial to their future career,” Griffeth said. “Sixty-two percent of participants changed jobs or received a promotion during the program and credit this success to their experience in AGL.”

Program results revealed that participants also showed an increase in their competency in conflict resolution, as well as in their knowledge of advocacy and interpersonal skills.

Participants in the 2025-26 cohort, who are professionals working in agriculture, forestry and allied sectors in Georgia, complete five Georgia-based institutes, a Washington, D.C., federal policy institute, and an international institute in Cortona, Italy.

“Their curriculum will include personality and behavior-based assessments, such as the DiSC and CliftonStrengths, as well as current issues in the agriculture, forestry and allied sectors,” Griffeth said. “They will also conduct a personal leadership project that often takes place in their home community.”

The institutes will focus on understanding Georgia’s emerging and existing markets, production and transportation, effective communication, state government, and economic development. The first institute will take place Feb. 4-7 on the UGA Athens Campus.

The incoming AGL cohort, all from Georgia, includes:

Thomas Barrett (BSFR – Forestry, ’01), Georgia Forestry Commission, Soperton

Ward Black (BSA – Agricultural Economics, ’09; MS – Agricultural and Applied Economics, ’11) , Solid Ground Services and Supply, Commerce

Alec Brown (BSFR – Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, ’20), Alo Farms, Fayetteville

Clark David (BSFR – Forestry, ’99), AgSouth Farm Credit, Bogart

Ricky Dollison, Dollison Farms, Poulan

Dustin Evans (BSFR – Forestry, ’08; MFR – Forest Resources, ’09), Interfor, Watkinsville

Griffin Evans (BSA – Agribusiness, ’06; BBA – Finance, ’06), RW Griffin Agribusiness Services, Douglas

Will Ficklen (MFR – Forest Resources, ’16), The Westervelt Company, Valdosta

Jessica Goodman (BSA – Agriscience and Environmental Systems, ’13), B.C.T. Gin Co., Quitman

Adam Hammond (MA – Nonprofit Management and Leadership, ’24), Georgia 4-H Foundation, Watkinsville

Julie Hardy, Kallie Ag, Ochlocknee

Reaganne Hart (BSA – Agricultural Communications, ’20; MPA – Public Administration, ’23), Office of the Governor, Watkinsville

Aries Haygood, A&M Farms, Lyons

Sarah Houtsma (BSA – Horticulture, ’19), Ball Horticultural Company, Athens

Scott Howell (BSFR – Forestry, ’01; MFR – Forest Resources, ’05), F&W Forestry Services, Leesburg

Jay Ivey (BSA – Agricultural Communications, ’22), U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, Athens

Caroline Langdale (BSA – Agricultural Communications, ’21), The Langdale Company, Valdosta

Jake Matthews (BSA – Agribusiness, ’20), Georgia Forestry Association, Macon

Ben Parker (BSA – Applied Biotechnology, ’20, Georgia Farm Bureau, Macon

Anna Reddish (BSA – Animal Science, ’08; BSA – Dairy Science, ‘08; MADS – Animal and Dairy Science, ’09), Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Atlanta

Keri Riddick, Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, West Point

Becca Schaper, Forest Resource Consultants, Macon

Matt Walker (BSFR – Forestry, ’01), Southern Forestry Consultants, Cairo

Bailey Whiten (BSA – Animal Science, ’16; BSA – Dairy Science, ‘16, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Covington

Krisha Whiting (MNR – Natural Resources, ’17), USDA National Resources Conservation Service, Athens

To learn more about the AGL program, visit caes.uga.edu/agl.