REAL Oregon

REAL Oregon

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Oregon is about to join other states such as Idaho, that have created a leadership development program for those tied to agriculture, fishing, and forestry. It all hinges on support from the natural resource industries: It’s called REAL Oregon– standing for Resource Education and Agricultural Leadership. Applicants to the program can be farmers, ranchers, forest managers, or fishermen…but also from government agencies and higher education. Oregon State University extension agent Bill Buhrig of Malheur County has gone through a similar program in Idaho. He says part of the goal is to produce leaders who can take their skills to school boards, commissions, civic organizations, the legislature– you name it– and also work with those who have different perspectives on natural resource issues:

 

BUHRIG: “To be able to tell their story about their farm or about their ranch or about their business and really help to build those bridges that we need to be building and maintaining with the urban sector.” 

 

Training will center on communication skills, conflict resolution, public speaking, and public policy among other areas. Each class of 30 participants will meet in five different geographic areas of the state during the course of the one-year program. REAL Oregon is looking for support from the natural resource industries, both in terms of funding and in identifying potential class members.

 

WALKER says REAL Oregon graduates will be better equipped to provide leadership and a natural resource perspective no matter how they choose to move forward:  “We’re hoping that after somebody has completed this program, they give back to the community. So maybe they become a board member to their commodity commission or they serve on their school board or they get involved legislatively or be willing to answer a reporter’s question about something in agriculture.” :19

 

 BUHRIG says Oregon is just one of 14 states to not have a leadership development program for natural resource industries: “Other states have demonstrated time and time again that having this bullpen of future leaders, this group of folks that are prepared, really take the next step as far as representing their industry and representing their state.”  

Previous ReportBeef and Dairy Markets
Next ReportChanging Face of Labor