Co-op Corner: Future Leaders Program

A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE CAREERS

BY JESSIE SHOOK

Alabama Farmers Cooperative’s Future Leaders Program gives participants the opportunity to receive hands-on experience and education of the Co-op system, and agribusiness, giving them a solid foundation to begin their careers. This program takes one year to complete and begins at the Co-op. Most of the FLPs’ time is spent in their assigned Co-op, while also attending continued education and training classes, and participating in AFC events. This year there were four Future Leaders that will be completing the program and starting the next chapter of their journey.

WILL BARNWELL

William Barnwell had an interest in joining the FLP Program for the opportunity to work closely with production agriculture. “I wanted to provide goods and services to the amazing farmers of Alabama,” Barnwell said. “I wanted to join a work environment that is a tight knit community, that works with and pushes you for success.”

A Hackleburg, Alabama, native Barnwell worked with a local cutting horse trainer throughout high school and junior college. He graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in animal science production management and a minor in ag business. After working in different facets of the agricultural industry, Barnwell joined the FLP Program and trained at Blount County Farmers Co-op with Eric Sanders and Jackson Farmers Co-op with Ramsey Prince.

Barnwell said that he benefitted from this program by gaining exposure to the business and all aspects of agriculture in Alabama. “I was able to connect with and form relationships with different farmers, sales representatives and AFC leaders, while growing and learning about aspects of agriculture that I otherwise would not have been exposed to daily,” Barnwell added.

BISHOP PRICE

Bishop Price was born and raised in Selma, Alabama. Price knew of people within the Co-op who had great success from this program. “I felt this was a great opportunity to pursue what I love,” Price said.

Price grew up in a cattle farming family. “My great grandfather began farming cattle right around the turn of the 20th century,” Price added. “Growing up with my grandfather and learning how the farm operated made me instantly fall in love.”

Price trained at Central Farmers Co-op in Selma. “During my time here, I have learned skills in customer service, how to properly count inventory and most importantly, I learned how to operate as a teammate in a business setting,” Price said.

TRIPP MCKEE

Tifton, Georgia, native Tripp McKee knew he wanted to be in the agriculture industry. With a bachelor’s degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, McKee saw an opportunity to get hands-on experience on how to run a Co-op location with the guidance of experienced professionals. “The aspect of being a trainee and being taught valuable skills in the industry to continue my development after graduating from college was the perfect opportunity that I was looking for,” McKee said.

McKee trained at the Talladega County Exchange under Chris Elliot and said he has learned the ins and the outs of the Co-op. “I learned the day to-day operations of the store, learned about customer service and product knowledge that we pride ourselves on,” McKee added. “I learned managerial duties such as ordering, receiving and merchandising products. I have learned a lot more about agronomy and livestock products, and how to run different pieces of equipment, blend fertilizer and so much more!”

JONATHAN WOOD

Jonathan Wood grew up in the military. “I like to tell people I’m from a little bit of everywhere,” Wood said. “I’ve lived in Florida, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Alabama and Washington D.C. before attending Auburn University.”

Wood had an interest in doing his part to feed the world and felt that one way to do that would be to interact with farmers directly. Before working that the Co-op, Wood had never seen a live chicken before, and this experience between DeKalb Farmer’s Co-op in Rainesville and Randolph Farmers Co-op has taught him a lot about the agriculture industry. “I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in seeing a different side of what it takes to feed the world,” Wood added.

Future leaders learn valuable skills such as product knowledge, customer service, finances and leadership skills. “I could list all the things I learned over the past year but this issue of the magazine would be the length of some textbooks I read in school,” Wood said. “I think the biggest thing I learned is that there is no substitution for hands-on learning and interacting with farmers firsthand.”

The Future Leaders Program is exactly what it says – a program for future leaders. Will, Bishop, Tripp and Jonathan will continue building upon the foundation of this program as their journey continues. Whether within AFC, our local Co-ops or one of our divisions, subsidiaries or joint ventures, we take pride in establishing a basis for these FLPs to thrive in their next step of their career.