​OBJECTIVES: Legislative tour. Learn about role of government and non-government agencies to understand how agricultural policies are made.  
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DAY 1

• US Botanic Garden Conservancy – tour led by: Susan Pell – Acting Director of the USBG.
• “Monuments by Moonlight” Trolley Tours, Inc. – explore DC; stops at World War II Memorial, FDR, Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials.

DAY 2

• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service – welcome and overview led by Troy Joshua, Chief of Staff, Office of the Administrator USDA-NASS.
• USDA Foreign Agricultural Service – Topics include NAFTA, Trade Policy, Marketing Assistance, Food Security.
• US Holocaust Memorial Museum – the purpose of the NJALDP is to foster leadership development; this museum offers a strong example of when leadership fails, and the terrible consequences that resulted.

DAY 3

• American Farm Bureau Federation – discuss trade issues, immigration and advocacy.
• Tour of Capital. 
• Congressional visits – class scheduled appointments before trip to discuss agricultural issues. 
• Sen. Booker’s Office – meet with legislative aid.

DAY 4

• Embassy of Canada – Agricultural trade between our two countries was $2.1 Billion; NJ Exported $992 Million to Canada in agricultural products.
• United Fresh Produce – topics include United Fresh in Policy, Food Safety, lobbying for produce industry, growers, shippers, etc.

​OBJECTIVES: understanding wildlife management and NJ agriculture, individual presentations, attend FB presentations.
DAY 1

• Final presentations – individual presentations – and feedback from reviewers.
• Wildlife Issues in NJ w/ Director of NJ Div of Fish and Wildlife
• Remarks from: NJDA, Secretary Fisher; NJ YF&R; RFD-TV Steve Campione, COO and CFO.

DAY 2

• NJ FFA – roundtable updates on NJALDP visits/judging events.
• Innovations in Greenhouse Technology – Holland Greenhouses
• NJ Fish and Wildlife – farmer member’s overview.
• Medicinal Benefits of Cranberries and Blueberries, RCE
• Jersey Fresh Update
• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.

Industry Tours, Northern NJ
OBJECTIVES: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCTION – learn about specialty crops (such as Korean pears), discuss process of operating a brewery in NJ, learn about various aspects of urban agriculture including beekeeping, explore beneficial insects, tour a dairy operation, network with NJALDP alumni.
DAY 1

• Evergreen Orchard Farm, Trenton.
• Bullock Farms and Screaming Hill Brewery, Cream Ridge.
• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.
• NJ FFA – roundtable updates on NJALDP visits/judging events.
• NJALDP Alumni Picnic, Horse Park of New Jersey, Allentown.

DAY 2

• Isles Projects and Beekeeping, Trenton
• NJDA Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Lab, Trenton
• Fulper Farms, Lambertville

​NJ Agricultural Convention
OBJECTIVES – STRENGTHEN PRESENTATION SKILLS, AG EDUCATION, AND NETWORKING.
DAY 1

• NJALDP Presentations – AZ/Domestic trip tours.
• Convention workshops – for vegetable growers.
• Networking – increasing contacts through opportunities at the convention – Trade show/Exhibit hall.

Day 2

• State of the State – NJ Department of Agriculture, Secretary Douglas Fisher.
• FFA and Agricultural Education – overview, and how to run an effective meeting.
• Convention business – remarks from legislators; livestock owners concerns and human issues; resolutions.  
• Networking – increasing contacts through opportunities at the convention – Ambassadors reception and Convention banquet. 

​​American Farm Bureau Convention
OBJECTIVES: identify leadership opportunities on a national level, compare issues on a national level, and network with agricultural leaders from other states.
DAY 1, Industry tours with Univ. of AZ Leadership Program

• Tour AZ Heritage Center; and discuss water issues, Tempe Town Lake.
• Orange Patch Citrus
• Queen Creek Olive Mill

DAY 2, Industry Tours; following tours, teams will prepare a 10 minute presentation to be delivered to NJALDP and guests at the February workshop in Atlantic City.
DAY 3, Convention

• Farm Bureau Convention – welcome, trade show, leadership lunch.
• State Departments of Agriculture and FSMA
• Convention workshops
• Networking – increasing contacts through opportunities at the convention – Farm Family Insurance reception.

DAY 4, Convention

• Convention workshops
• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.

DAY 5, Industry tours

• Danzeisen Dairy Farm
• Francis Rose Farm
• Networking – increasing contacts through opportunities at the convention – dinner with the NJ Delegation.

​NJ Farm Bureau Convention
OBJECTIVES: COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA. Review leadership and communications, and using social media. Also understanding NJ Agriculture and Farm Bureau.
DAY 1

• Farm Bureau Convention – welcome, reports/resolutions.
• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.
• Social Media for Advocacy workshop – Deirdre Breakenridge (CEO, Pure Performance Communications).
• National Agricultural Issues and Leadership Development – Zippy Duval (President, American Farm Bureau).

DAY 2

• Crisis Communication Best Practices – Careen Winters (VP, Corporate Reputation Management).

Industry Tours, Northern NJ
OBJECTIVES: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCTION – analyze/reflect communications and listening skills; understand equine industry; and working with NRCS.
DAY 1

• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.
• Rutgers Univ. – research tour, Martin Hall.

• Interpersonal skills – Regina Efimchik (Director, Rutgers Univ. School of Communication and Information).

• NJ Nursery and Landscape Association dinner and Rutgers Gardens tour.

DAY 2

• Readington River Buffalo Farm, Flemington
• B.W. Furlong and Associates, Califon
• Redfield Farm, Califon

 Industry Tours, southern NJ - check out our video tour - 
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https://www.facebook.com/261500200668565/videos/677588972393017/

OBJECTIVES: AGRICULTURAL ISSUES AND INNOVATION. Learn about the aquaculture, turf, nursery and vegetable industries’ technologies and environmental issues.
DAY 1

• Dusty Lane Farm, Elmer
• Centerton Nursery, Bridgeton
• Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Hammonton
• Farm to Table – The Establishment, North Wildwood.

DAY 2, Cape May

• Betsy’s Cape Shore Salts
• NJ Aquaculture Innovation Center, Rutgers Univ.
• Willow Creek Winery
• USDA Plant Materials Center ​

​NJ DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, and RUTGERS ECO COMPLEX
OBJECTIVES – examine how state government works; meet key personnel at the Dept. of Agriculture; overview of lobbying and key issues. Also learn about Farmland Preservation and Right to Farm.
DAY 1, NJ Department of Agriculture

• “A Who’s Who?” Secretary, Douglas Fisher; Meet the Directors – Division of Food and Nutrition, Rose Tricario; Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Monique Purcell; Division of Animal Health, Dr. Manoel Tamassia; Division of Plant Industry, Joe Zoltowski; Division of Marketing and Development, Al Murray (retired); and Legislative Liaison, Rob Vivian.
• State House Tour
• Legislative Overview – meet with Assembly Democrats and Assembly Republicans.
• NJ Farm Bureau, overview and current issues.
• Farmland Preservation and Right to Farm – Farm Bureau Farmhouse; State Agricultural Development Board.

DAY 2, Rutgers Eco Complex

• “Ag in the Middle” – Jack Rabin (Associate Director, Farm Programs, NJAES, retired).

• Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak – Assembly Agricultural Committee  

Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede and guest Richard Kamin (MBI Gluckshaw). 

NJ AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION
OBJECTIVES – COMMUNICATIONS, NETWORKING, AND FUNDRAISING. Establish dialog with agricultural leaders; network; examine agricultural issues. Also understanding NJ Agriculture and the NJ Agricultural Convention.
DAY 1

• Fundraising overview – Kris Guttadora (Executive Director, NJ Agricultural Society).  Taking the fear out of fundraising; 10 steps to successful fundraising and NJALDP fundraising expectations.
• Persuasive Presentations and Storytelling – Regina Efimchik (Director, Rutgers Univ. School of Communication and Information).
• Networking – increasing contacts through opportunities at the convention – Trade show.  

DAY 2

• NJ Agricultural Convention, overview – understanding NJ Agriculture and NJ Agricultural Convention, Kurt Alstede.
• State of the State – NJ Department of Agriculture, Secretary Douglas Fisher.

• Convention Business Session – developing and setting a policy agenda for the industry over the coming year through the resolutions process. Listening sessions – members of the agricultural industry provide on-the-ground experiences and ideas for policy, highlighting Locally Grown.
• County Boards – expectations and mixer.
• Networking – increasing contacts through opportunities at the convention – NJ Agricultural Society Lunch, Ambassadors Reception and Delegates Dinner. 

DAY 3

• Convention Business Session – Farm Labor Update
• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.  
• Rutgers NJAES Report – Dean Robert Goodman.
• Networking – increasing contacts through opportunities at the convention – Farm Credit East Lunch.