Almost at the end

of Kellogg Rural Leaders course.

Yesterday we all completed 

what seemed a huge hurdle at the start of the week,

our small group work project.

We started out innocently identifying

some of the most important issues in the rural sector

Water

Monoculture

Markets

Corporatisation

and something else.
Serves us right for trying to be so smart.

Once the issues were sorted

we were numbered into groups.

Given 5 days but very little time

in a schedule that starts at 830am and finishes at 9pm.

But we survived.

Only to be blindsided by a new assignment.
Such fun!

This one was to be part of a commission hearing on
a moratorium on dairying in New Zealand.

The groups were Fed Farmers,
environmentalists, Treasury and us, the Press.

Being the Press was fun.
I enjoyed coming up with totally left field questions.
Our team had the best time doing it too.
Two nights before as we were out on the town,
some of hit the tiles in a non-dancing way more than others,
we stole photos of the different groups talking to each other
and made gross and assumed assumptions (haha)
about this environmentalist talking to that Fed Farmer rep.

Our last morning on Kellogg Rural Leaders, stage one
was spent being half serious about swiping each other's arguments.

Our last hour was sharing what our learning was during the 10 days
of voluntary Kellogg imprisonment
(I think my partner felt it was more than I).

What I've learnt over the last 10 days is
that it is not enough for me to strive in areas I am relatively comfortable in.
I need to get my butt out on the edge and scare and impress myself.
I need to push myself harder.
I need to be more self aware of how others see me,
not how I see myself,
assuming of course that others see me as way more competent that I do.

Was 10 days of being challenged by Patrick and Tony
at Kellogg Rural Leaders worth it?
Hell yes.

Would I do it again?
Yes but not this week...
I need a break from being mentally stimulated and thinking so much.
Good thing the Boss doesn't read my blog!

Kellogg Rural Leaders

This year I have the privilege of being part of the

Kellogg Rural Leaders programme.

I've long wanted to do the Kellogg programme.

When I worked at Lincoln Uni

organising conferences,

I worked on the periphery of the Kellogg programme.

I'd often sneak into the back of the Council Room

where the Kellogg programme is held,

and sit in on one or two of the presentations

from some really brilliant speakers and authorities in their fields.

The course is a year long course in three parts.

The first part, of which I am part of now,

is a ten day residential session

with 50 different presentations.

Yes 50 in ten days.

That's a lot of presentations in a not very long time.

The presentations subjects range from

critical thinking to an overview on the Deer Industry,

presentation skills to water management on the Canterbury Plains,
social media to an overview of the Pip Fruit Industry,

so a mix of practical and personal skills

and overviews of the different sectors in New Zealand's Hort/Ag industry.

The second part of Kellogg is our individual resaerch project.
The third and final part is residential again but
this time we do a few days at Lincoln Uni presenting our research
then travel to Wellington to wrap up
with some more leadership inspiration.

This year's participants come from nearly all regions of New Zealand

but for the first time from Australia too.
There's a range of ages,
professions and industries represented.

There are 20 of us and nine are Dairy farmers
then a couple of pipfruit/ag consultants,
a seed scientist, a sheep and beef farmer,
a banker, orchardist, a vet, a research scientist,
a policy writer and me,
the non-ag person.
I just tell them in the business of farming people.

The group is diverse but
united on a desire to build a better
future for our industry and for our country.
Kellogg has a proven track record for it's alum
to go on to lead not just the industry but
in one case the country.
There are a lot of people who have radically realised
a very different future for themselves,
envisioned a huge future for their sector of the industry and
then taken both to some amazing horizons
as a result of their particpation in Kellogg.

It is renouned for changing lives.

There are some 600 alumni out and about in the world.
Almost without exception they are making a positive difference
in their communities of interest.

To make the ten days a little pressured,
along side the presentations,
 we have to make a few ourselves too.

My wee group of four,
Jamo, Wayne, Phil and myself
are researching and presenting on
Canterbury as a Dairy Monoculture.

This is something none of us know anything about
but at least the other three are Dairy farmers,
me,
I'll make the slides,
research the people impact,
and the meaning of monoculture.
Then we present on Thursday,
which is beginning to feel like high noon.

I think what makes Kellogg an amazing experience at this stage,
is the people.
The members of my cohort are all really interesting,
successful people.
Who think for themselves, who are driven and focused,
it's kind of like being on an elite team
where everyone is learning their strengths and
we are learning each others,
we are learning to make the best of what we can do,
and invite others with skills we don't have to share with us.

I'm loving it.

Farm on.

2013

It's a new year, another year.

I like this concept that we leave behind 

all that has gone on last year

and start a fresh,

keeping that which we want.

Renewal is important,

keeping us hopeful and replenished.

Everyone I know seems really hopeful for 2013.

I, for one already have a good idea of what 

the first few months of 2013 hold

and it's all good and 

it's going to be hard work,

and it's going to be good.

Actually it's going to be great.

In less than two weeks

 I start 

Kellogg Rural Leaders course.

Excited much?  

Hell yeah!

20 young leaders working and living in the rural sector

building on our leadership skills and experiences

in a year long professional course

held at my favourite university,

Lincoln University.

Yeah just down the road.

Summer on campus is blissfully tranquil.

Look for lots of peaceful, beautiful, idyllic photos coming up.

I already know a few people on the course.

My two favourite ANZ Young Farmer Contest winners,

plus a couple of people I have been long keen to work with.

We start on the 16th of January for a ten day

residential course focusing on learning more about our industry,

about the existing industry leaders and their styles and achievements,

plus we firm up, and in my case finialise our research topic.

Guess what mine is?

Anyone? Anyone?

Farmers and social media; 

Communication, Connection and Communities

I know,

 totally left field, right?

Thanks, with much thanks to OneFarm 

who are kindly funding my project

and hopefully thanks to some commercial sponsors too.

The plan is to educate NZ farmers on how to use twitter

and set up the AgChatNZ Foundation

and, and, and heaps of things.

I love working in the rural sector!

People are incredibly generous and helpful.

I am blessed.

Kellogg Rural Leaders 2013 meet again in November 

to wrap up the course with a few days at Lincoln Uni,

then on to Wellington the seat of NZ's political power

and with the exception of Fonterra,

the rural industry too.  

Except for those companies whose HQs are based in places

like Feilding, Christchurch, Dunedin and of course Methven,

not to mention all those farms around the place.

2013 is going to rock!