Class 12 Travels to

Nation’s Capital Briefings on agricultural issues and visits with Louisiana’s legislative delegation were some of the highlights of the study tour to Washington, D.C., for Class 12 of the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program. Practically all of the class members were able to visit with their U.S. representatives. ―For many of our class members, it was their first opportunity to discuss specific issues with their representatives,‖ said Dr. Bobby Soileau, director of Ag Leadership. Many of the issues discussed stemmed from the briefings the class received from American Farm Bureau representatives about immigration, food safety and the Clean Water Act.

The group also visited with both Louisiana senators – Mary Landrieu and David Vitter – along with their staff members. ―A number of issues were discussed with our senators, and it was a good learning experience for our class,‖ Soileau said. At the conclusion of the legislative visits, the class members listened to a number of presentations about various issues

The AgLeader Innovative research, information and education to improve people’s lives. December 2010

Calendar of Events

Class 12 Seminar Jan. 4-6, 2011 Efferson Hall Baton Rouge

Class 12 Seminar Feb. 15-17, 2011

Efferson Hall Baton Rouge

Class 12

National Trip Santa Barbara

County, California June 13-17, 2011

Ag Leaders of

Louisiana Business Meeting

July 8, 2011 During LFBF

Annual Convention New Orleans

Class 12 Seminar Oct. 11-13, 2011

Efferson Hall Baton Rouge

Ag Leaders of

Louisiana Annual Meeting

October 2011 Lafayette Area

pertaining to the forestry and animal industries. In addition, two commodity representatives important to Louisiana – Jack Pettus of the American Sugar Cane League and Johnny Broussard of the USA Rice Federation – talked to the group about how they represent these commodities in Washington.

―Often people do not get involved because they are not aware of the process,‖ said Soileau. ―It can be intimidating to them. These sessions are designed to get class members more comfortable in the process and to increase their knowledge. You have to become a good consumer of information to be more effective as a leader.‖

Sixth Congressional District Rep. Bill Cassidy

visits with Class 12 members from that district.

Pictured from left to right are Heath Morris,

Neil Melancon and Russell Kent.

A member of Sen. David Vitter’s staff gives

Class 12 members a tour of the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Mary Landrieu visits with the entire

group to answer questions from class members

about relevant issues.

Director’s Message By Bobby Soileau, Director LSU AgCenter Agricultural Leadership Development Program

One of my favorite leadership authors, Dr. Warren Bennis, once wrote, ―Leadership without mutual trust is a contradiction in terms.‖ I often tell our Ag Leadership class members that much of agricultural leadership is about building relationships with the groups or people who can have an effect on their lives. Without mutual trust, however, any leadership endeavor is difficult. For many of our class members, the trip to Washington, D.C., was their first opportunity to lobby for Louisiana agriculture. In addition, it was an eye-opening experience to see the youth of the legislative aides working for our U.S. representatives and senators. I was asked a lot of questions about the age of the people working in Congress. It was difficult for some of our class members to put faith or trust in these people. That said, if those of us who support agriculture refuse to build these relationships, we will limit our ability for others to trust us. In other words, we will allow someone else to tell our story. I recently read an interesting article titled ―How the Best Leaders Build Trust‖ written by leadership author Stephen Covey. In it, he identified the 13 behaviors of trusted leaders. They are:

1. Talk Straight

2. Demonstrate Respect

3. Create Transparency

4. Right Wrongs

5. Show Loyalty

6. Deliver Results

7. Get Better

8. Confront Reality

9. Clarify Expectation

10. Practice Accountability

11. Listen First

12. Keep Commitments

13. Extend Trust Covey also added, ―The best leaders recognize that trust impacts us 24/7, 365 days a year. It undergirds and affects the quality of every relationship, every communication, every work project, every business venture, every effort in which we are engaged.‖ Simply stated, trust is vital for effective leadership. As you have probably read, our trip to Washington, D.C., was a great experience for Class 12. Everyone learned about the process of lobbying on behalf of Louisiana agriculture, and they all understand how important it is to be knowledgeable about the issues that can affect all of us. In addition, I have asked one of our alumni, Ewell Smith (Class 8), to write about his recent leadership experiences. As one of the leaders of Louisiana’s seafood industry, he has learned a number of lessons about dealing with crisis. In particular, he learned from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and more recently with the BP oil spill in the Gulf. Finally, I want to thank the alumni for the plaque honoring my father. I’ll end with the quote from one of his speeches that is on the plaque: “The leader who never dreams and who never allows his dreams to be tested in the arena of thought never transforms; he is forever locked into today. Visions are the magnets that pull people out of tradition and indifference. They energize a cause. Effective leadership will be driven by a vision.” Robert R. Soileau

Alumni Leadership In Action By Ewell Smith, Class 8

Ten years ago,

when I accepted

the job as

executive director

of the Louisiana

Seafood

Promotion and

Marketing Board, I

will never forget

my then Chairman

Darrel Rivere

asking me the day I was hired if I

was up to the challenge to lead the

seafood industry. At the ripe age of

33, I eagerly answered yes!

When I was accepted into the Ag

Leadership program two years into

the job I remember clearly the

director, Dr. Futrell, saying how

important the Ag Leadership

program would be to our class’s

development as leaders. Good thing

I was enthusiastic and naive when I

answered my chairman’s question,

and good thing I was accepted into

the Ag Leadership program — for I

had no idea then about what the

future would hold.

You have heard that with crisis

comes opportunity. That is fact; how

you respond to the crisis is the

December 2010 The AgLeader

Ewell Smith being interviewed by BBC

Radio reporter Robyn Bresnaham after

the BP oil spill.

important part. What helps is being

prepared to address crisis when it

happens, and I can sincerely say without a

doubt that the LSU AgCenter’s Ag

Leadership program helped to prepare me

for a series of unreal challenges:

hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike and

now the BP oil spill.

Something as simple as doing bus tours of

affected areas with media and politicians

following Katrina made a huge difference in

our ability to tell our story and in asking for

assistance. As simple as that seems, that

was just one tool I learned inadvertently as

we did our bus tours as Class 8 to sugar

cane mills and traversing across Chile and

Argentina.

It was a skill that proved itself invaluable as

the tours were repeated again after the oil

spill. This time we went by boat, not bus,

with media, mayors and executive chefs

from around the country to our affected

areas. In many respects, Katrina prepared

us for the oil spill, especially with respect to

communications.

We learned with a crisis to address

communications challenges head on and

immediately. And, most importantly, as

leaders partnering with other leaders,

we’ve also come to understand how

invaluable it is to be part of a coalition with

common interests to help get things done

both at the state level and federal level.

I picked the bus tours as a skill learned to

underscore the importance of the many

other more important skills the Ag

Leadership program taught our class. I

also want to use this opportunity to enlist

the Ag Alumni leaders and the current

class. The way we overcome a crisis is by

helping our own communities. I call on you

to help us spread the word that our fishing

communities are up and running and that

the seafood from the Gulf is the most

tested food source in the world. Please use

Facebook, send a tweet or simply share a

conversation with your circle of influence.

I even have a tool that will help you do

that, please visit www.Louisiana

SeafoodNews.com to see what is really

going on.

The saying that a rising tide raises all ships

certainly fits very well. As we collectively

use our voices to strengthen our fishing

communities, we strengthen tourism, our

restaurants and ALL the other businesses

that interconnect in our state.

December 2010

The AgLeader is an LSU AgCenter publication from its Agricultural Leadership Development Program. Administration Dr. Bobby Soileau Director

Matthew Keppinger Assistant Director Jenne Farr Administrative Assistant

Ag Leadership Development Program Board of Directors Brian Breaux, Chair LSU AgCenter Representatives Dr. Bill Richardson Dr. David Boethel Dr. Paul Coreil Dr. Robert Godke Dr. Joan King Dr. Steve Linscombe Dr. Ben Legendre Alumni Representatives Jessie Breaux John Earl Carroll Lonnie Champagne Bill Cheek Ruben Dauzat David Fields Matthew Keppinger Tommy Laborde Jenni Peterman Rebecca Shirley Jim Simon Ewell Smith Buck Vandersteen Emeritus Representatives Dr. Rouse Caffey Dr. Jim Fowler Dr. Mike Futrell Dr. Ken Roberts

The AgLeader

Ewell Smith, left, with some world-renown

chefs in Barataria Bay: left to right, Susur Lee,

Rick Moonen and John Folse.

World renown chefs and the media tour

Barataria Bay, which was polluted with oil

from the BP spill.

Oil in the water in Barataria Bay along the Lou-

isiana coast.

Ag Leaders of Louisiana Annual Meeting Big Success Whenever Ag Leadership alumni get together it is a great time for fellowship. This year members of every Ag Leadership class were represented at the Ag Leaders of Louisiana Annual Meeting in Avoyelles Parish Oct. 28-29. A great crowd attended the banquet where everyone had an enjoyable evening. LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson spoke to the alumni before Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Robert Barham gave the keynote address. During the banquet, a silent auction took place. Many items ranging from hunting and fishing trips to beautiful plants were available. By the end of the evening, more than $19,000 was raised.

Early the next morning, a number of alumni conducted an Ag Leaders of Louisiana business meeting in which they approved the creation of a ―rainy day‖ fund for the program. An

initial deposit into a CD of $75,000 was approved at the meeting. ―This commitment from our alumni is a testament to the quality of the program,‖ said Dr. Bobby Soileau, director of Ag Leadership. ―Our goal is $150,000, which will ensure we can put an entire class through the program in case of a financial crisis.‖ In addition, new officers were nominated and approved by the alumni. The new officers are: Jessie Breaux Jr. (Class 4) President Marty Wooldridge (Class 9) Vice-president Mary Zaunbrecher (Class 9) Treasurer Kenny Self (Class 8) Secretary Trent Clark (Class 10) Program Co-chair Errol Domingues (Class 11) Program Co-chair Donna Morgan (Class 11) Program Co-chair Jenni Peterman (Class 11) Program Co-chair

Ag Leaders to Meet in New Orleans

The Ag Leaders of Louisiana will meet on Friday, July 8, 2011, at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel on Canal Street. The meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Galerie 5 and 6.

―We typically see more alumni of the Ag Leadership Program during the annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention,‖ said Ag Leadership Director Bobby Soileau. ―We are so thankful that Ronnie Anderson and his staff are gracious enough to allow our alumni to conduct a business meeting during their convention.‖

December 2010

About the LSU AgCenter The LSU AgCenter is dedicated to providing innovative research, information and education to improve people’s lives. Working in a unique statewide network of parish extension offices, research stations and academic departments, the LSU AgCenter helps Louisiana citizens make the best use of natural resources, protect the environment, enhance agricultural enterprises and develop human and community resources.

The AgLeader

Marty Wooldridge gives Ag Leadership

coordinator Jenne Farr payment for a

duck hunt he won during the auction.

Pete Dufresne, left, from Class 10 and

LSU AgCenter agent Al Orgeron talk to

class members about Dufresne’s sugar-

cane crop during the October seminar.

Above: Touring the Lula Sugar Factory

led by Ag Leadership alumni Chris and

Daniel Mattingly.

Below: LSU AgCenter sugarcane spe-

cialist Dr. Kenneth Gravois talks to the

group at the Dufresne farm.