LSU Ag Leadership Class Visits Louisiana Farm Bureau Office

By Allie Doise, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

Louisiana Farm Bureau's Neil Melancon interviews LSU Ag Leadership Program Director Bobby Soileau during a recent visit on the set of "This Week in Louisiana Agriculture."

When it comes to training the future leaders of agriculture, it’s more than just classroom lessons for Louisiana’s best.

LSU Ag Leadership Class XV stopped by the Louisiana Farm Bureau office to sharpen their communication skills as part of the program's training.  The LSU Ag Leadership Class is designed to help leaders on the farm and in the ag industry hone their skills in communicating to the public and to political leaders on the state and national levels.

Bobby Soileau, LSU Ag Leadership executive director, said this class is getting real-world experience with the change in leadership in Washington and the upcoming FarmBill.

“It is one of the most unique times we have ever seen politically in our country,” Soileau said.

Soileau said for people to remain successful in the agricultural industry they must understand the issues arising and how to handle them. 

“It is important for people to pay attention to what’s going on,” Soileau said. “It’s not to let the emotions of the situations get to them, but to understand what the issues are and how the new administration is going to have an impact on issues that have an impact on their livelihood.”

The two-year program accepts anyone either involved in production agriculture, or in related industries such as banking, real estate and crop consulting.