​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. 

NJ FARM BUREAU CONVENTION​
OBJECTIVES – COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING. Improve on: presentation skills; conveying your message; and verbal and non-verbal behavior.  Also understanding NJ Agriculture and Farm Bureau.
DAY 1

• Farm Bureau Convention, overview – understanding NJ Agriculture and NJ Farm Bureau, Kurt Alstede.
• Communications Skills session – Regina Efimchik (Director, Rutgers Univ. School of Communication and Information).
• Farm Bureau Remarks.
• Fundraising – 50:50, Farm Bureau Lunch.

DAY 2

• Farm Bureau Resolutions

• Impromptu Speaking session – Regina Efimchik (Director, Rutgers Univ. School of Communication and Information).

• Young Farmers and Ranchers overview – Debbie Pribell (NJFB membership coordinator).
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension history – Jack Rabin (Associate Director, Farm Programs, NJAES, retired).
• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.  
• NJ Department of Agriculture, Secretary Douglas Fisher.

CAMP BERNIE
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OBJECTIVES – TEAM BUILDING. Develop an understanding of the importance of: working as a team; personal leadership skills; effective communication; creative problem solving; skills and vision; conflict resolution; and meeting management skills.
DAY 1

• Welcome, introductions and expectations – Jen Matthews (Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Cape May County, NJALDP Director), Kurt Alstede (founder, Alstede Farms, NJALDP agricultural liaison) and Kris Guttadora (Executive Director, NJ Agricultural Society). Meet NJALDP Class 10.
• Team building – 40 ft. climbing tower and rappelling down in an effort to build self-confidence, goal setting and team spirit!  
• Hot topics discussions, moderated by Kurt Alstede.  
• Farm tour and more – Alstede Farms, dinner/wine tasting and bonfire. 
• Election of NJALDP Class 10 officers.  President, Chad Cherefko; Vice President, Dave DeFrange; Secretary, Jim Simon; Treasurer, Debbie Norz; Media Officers, Jen LaMonaca and Rose Robson; Special Projects Officers, Dawn Edmonds and Mark Kiriluk; Table Topics Officers, Adam Furlong and Ben Jorritsma and Recruitment Officers, Shawn Cutts and Tim Bourgeois.

DAY 2

• DISC assessment – Beth Tracey (Program Director, OASIS Leadership and Professional Development Program, Rutgers Univ.).  
• Public speaking – elevator speeches.
• Leadership Practices Inventory assessment – Emil Sadloch (Instructor, Rutgers Univ. Center for Management Development).