DO AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS PRODUCE COMMUNITY LEADERS? A CASE STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF AN AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ON PARTICIPANTS’ COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Kathleen D. Kelsey, Assistant Professor Oklahoma State University Leah J. Wall, Extension Educator Cleveland County OSU Extension Service Abstract Agricultural leadership program efficacy has been determined by a number of studies; however, most have not reported on the impacts that participants have had on actual community leadership. The study determined the extent to which participants in a two-year agricultural leadership program became community leaders and contributed to rural community development processes (RCD). Participants in the study were graduates of the program from 1982 to 2001 (N=290). Surveys administered to the population and face-to-face interviews with eight purposefully selected subjects were used to collect data. In spite of the survey findings of self- reported changes in knowledge and behavior, qualitative findings revealed that participants were aware of the importance of RCD, but they were not serving in leadership positions and were taking a minimal role to improve their communities. Recommendations include incorporating a practicum into the program that teaches needs assessment, project development, and change agent skills so that participants have the knowledge and skills to serve as effective community leaders. Introduction Agricultural leadership programs have a 70-year history in the United States. There is a need for leadership programs that teach citizens how to cope with the barrage of change in the rural environment. In particular, citizens must be educated and prepared with essential knowledge and skills abilities in order to assume leadership positions that concentrate on the concerns of rural America. The current array of agricultural leadership programs demonstrates a significant societal investment towards the important goal of fostering community participation by rural citizens (Rossing & Heasley, 1987). Rural community development (RCD) is especially critical in the Southwest as the region faces problems symptomatic of a declining economy and a lack of leadership capacity to solve them. Effective RCD is dependent on local leaders’ knowledge, skills, and willingness to assume key roles in the development process (Mulkey, 1989). Realizing the need to train more leaders to improve the quality of life for rural citizens, a major land-grant university in the Southwest founded an agricultural leadership program in 1982. The goal of the program was to teach adults (ages 25-45) involved in agriculture or agribusiness leadership skills to impact policy at local, state, and national levels. Ten classes of approximately 30 participants each had been completed at the time of the study. The program objectives included 1) increasing participants’ awareness of the agricultural industry, 2) expanding participants’ understanding of U.S. economic, political, cultural, and social systems, 3) increasing participants’ ability to analyze and react to complex problems affecting rural communities, 4) increasing participants’ leadership involvement and activities at the Journal of Agricultural Education 35 Volume 44, Number 4, 2003