Carolina Farm Credit recently held its eighth annual Agricultural Leadership Institute in Asheville, NC at the Grove Park Inn. This educational conference brings together and celebrates young, beginning, and small farmers and was created to equip young and beginning farmers to meet the challenges of modern agriculture and to encourage the sharing of ideas and networking within the industry.  There were 30 participants this year, either farm couples or individuals from across Carolina Farm Credit’s territory, selected for their farm leadership and achievements.

This dynamic and interactive seminar is led each year by Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech and professional speaker, focusing on “Mega Forces of Agriculture.” Dr. Kohn’s topics are designed to enlighten and help participants meet the daily challenges of modern agriculture while maintaining balance between family business, family life, and personal life, and included Population and Farming Trends, Finances & Credit, and the Golden Rules for Success in Business & Family.

“Each year I am amazed by the quality of the young, beginning and small farmers who attend this event”, says Mike Morton, CEO of Carolina Farm Credit.  “Their commitment to and passion for agriculture renews my faith that the future of North Carolina agriculture is in good hands.  By allowing opportunities to network and create relationships, we are hopeful that these young couples get much more from the weekend than the academic information provided.  I know that we at Carolina Farm Credit feel that building relationships with these young farmers helps our company create a link to agriculture’s future and allows us to stay connected to our customer base,” says Morton.