Class 40 recently completed the Agriculture Issues Seminar in the Yakima Valley. The class explored one of the most productive growing regions in the world, and gained a better appreciation for Washington state agriculture. The class spoke with farm operators and business and community leaders. They also interacted with members of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Workgroup, a diverse stakeholder group working to manage the long-term water needs of the Yakima Basin. Their work is held as a model for collaboration in the natural resources.
What Class Participants are Saying:
- The information presented at this seminar will follow me throughout my career and life. The perspectives shared could not have been learned from browsing the internet. Seeing these operations in person helped me gain a better understanding of the importance of Washington state agriculture.
- What I took away from this was a reminder that we have responsibilities to the communities we call home. If we want to see change, we need to be at the forefront of it.
- The seminar was filled with reminders that collaboration is the way that things get done.
- The success story of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan highlighted people with different interests but the same goal of coming together to make a difference; a theme we've followed throughout the program. As stated by one of our class members, “People can have different reasons for being at the table, and that doesn't matter so long as their end-goal is the same." So, what will I do differently? We all sit around the table with groups of people on a daily basis, maybe not fighting over water, but still disagreeing. If I can help my groups focus on outcome driven solutions, we'll make so much more progress.
- I gained perspective on the importance of not being complacent. Being open minded about change is very important for leaders. What is working today might not work in 5-10 years.
- One concept I realized after pondering the seminar is that it seems when farmers are faced with challenges, innovation arises. I was reminded that leaders are adaptive must find creative solutions to problems!
- I learned that my job of educating the public about agriculture will never be over. This seminar relit the fire in me to share my story and be an advocate for what I do. I must learn more about what others in agriculture do and help share their stories too.
- This seminar drove home for me how critical it is to balance ecological, economic and social interests associated with resource management.
- This seminar will help me be a more well-rounded and educated advocate for the industry. You can read about something as much as you want, but you'll never gain the education you need from being out there, learning from those doing the work and walking in their shoes. That is a lesson I will take with me and apply to other areas in my life.
