Farm And Agribusiness Leaders Present Views On Dean Search
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.)—About 50 people
representing the agriculture and agribusiness community,
along with members of the Dean Search Committee
appointed by the Provost, gathered on campus on Novem
ber 16. Some came to make formal presentations about the
issues they see facing the next Dean, and to offer support
from their industry groups to address those issues. Some
came just to listen to the comments, silently expressing
their interest in the future leadership of the College. Those
on the Search Committee and those on the advisory com
mittee to the search process came to hear the concerns of
the College’s constituents, hopefully to translate those
comments into criteria they might use when considering
applicants for the position.
There were 16 formal presentations, plus nine others
who had submitted comments but were unable to attend.
Comments covered a wide variety of issues, from those
encouraging more College attention to smaller commodi
ty interests to requests for more extension support in pro
duction agriculture and family farm concerns. Many con
centrated the College’s past support and stressed the
importance of continuing and increasing support in the
future. There woe a number of comments that under
sewed the importance of the College as an advocate for
Pennsylvania agriculture and agribusiness, stressing the
vital leadership that is needed in the Dean and the College.
The need for the external community to be involved in the
College’s planning was clear, as was the hope for more
partnerships between the College and industry to help
improve profitability in agriculture.
The meeting was sponsored by the Penn State Agricul
tural Council at the suggestion of Ag Trustee Dave Mor
row to provide that group's Board of Directors with col
lective input to submit to the University President, the
Provost, the Search Committee, and the Advisory Com
mittee. Along with Dr. Morrow, other Ag Trustees Boyd
Wolff, Sen. Roger Madigan, Guy Donaldson and Secret
ary of Agriculture Charles Brosius woe at the meeting.
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PENN STATE AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL
"Looking Toward the Futuro-an Agricultural and Agribualnoaa View"
On Thursday. November 16. IMS, tha Pann Slats Agricultural Council eenvanad a
masting at tha Pann Stats Scandeon tor tits purpose of soliciting Input from
agricultural and agribusiness leaders about tha issues and challenges that will lace
tha nest Doan of tha Collage of Agricultural Sciences.
The Council's Board ol Directors received prepared comments from those who
responded to an open Invitation to participate, and also from those unable to attend
who submitted written comments. A Ist of presenters is attached to this document.
Following Is the Board's summary of the major themes horn the meeting, as well as
more specific issues and obssrvations made by tha participants.
The participants. and therefore the comments, <Sd not reflect the thoughts and opinions
ol the entire food system community. However, there wore several broad Issues that
might be seen a relevant to tha large agricultural and agribusiness clientele Impacted
by this Collage. Tha tolowing are points from tha meeting, as well as the Board's
impressions of the challenges facing tha next Dean:
• The future of Pann Stats Cooperative Extension Is of msjor concern Thera are
hopes to ghrs mors emphasis to extension, to have mors trainers In this group who
can train tha dentals, to have more direct contact with production agriculture at the
farm, to be mors production-agriculture oriented, and to reinforce the value of
extension to the entire farming family.
• There is wide support to continue the three thrusts ol the College—research,
education and extension.
• There Is a hope to locus mors of the College's attention on the needs of production
agriculture.
• As the challsngs of producing and processing agricultural products becomes more
competitive, there will be a need to bring together all the segments of tha food
system’ In production and processing to mast these challenges tor everyone's
benefits.
• There are those In tha agribusiness community who want to produce commodities
In the tradWonal way. and those who are interested In opportunities to produce
dMlersnt products or value-added products, based on what tha market wants.
These two groups are sometimes In conllcl.
• Outreach efforts of the College need to be expanded to all segments of the
agricultural and related Interests served by tha College
• The pubic is not wslHntormsd about agriculture, and more attention from the
agricultural community, as wed as tha Co legs, Is needed to Improve their
understanding.
• .Profitability in all areas ol agribusiness Is a primary focus and needs lull College
'support
• Because ol continually declining nsourcas. the CoUaga may naad to narrow Ha
focus and astabllih priorities bated on cott-banalH analysis.
• Than It a naad lor the puMc to recognize that 'agriculture' It a cultural part ol
tocWy-with a certain Westyle. value system, eta—that makes Important
contributions to run! America.
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• RwUb* vital to the tgrtbutlnaetoommunHy that lha Colag* b* able to integrate He
program* and Interact eftocthroly uutth producer*, preonton. otc,at they are faced
with the change* In the way they do bueinett.
• Tho agrieullural ond ralalod community It looking lor Ittdtrthlp and advocacy
They want mom viattiiMy In lha Unlvtftity, at wall at in tha txlamal polcy arena
(SUM logltlatuft. ate.). WMIa thlt may not be tha CoDaga't role. them may Da a
need to actively (adnata tha agrieullural community in developing Hi own
laadtrthip and abilty to advocate tor KtaK.
• The hlttory and tradHlon ol lha pan mutt bo pratarvtd, but wt mutt alto look to the
prtitnt and tha (ulure. TMt it an Indutlry in tram Mon Thera wIH bt a naad to
bridge from tha pan ttandardt to mow prograttlva approach*! to production and
proeatting
• Tha Commonwealth of Panntylvanl* hat a highly dhrart* agrieuHur* The number
of agricultural commodltiai produced her* pratant more complair challenge* to
thlt College and Hi Da an than ttaltt wHh towar commodHy Inttraitt
• All group* In tha agrieullural and related community want a dialogue wHh the
College. and they want Involvement In how tha Collage dalarminat He program*
and priorttlai.
• Thor* It a major challenge in helping agriculture pretttva the environment, at wall
ae helping everyone pratarve natural retourote and iHH maintain prontabllHy
• The Mature thle College oommande In the land-gram unlvereHy oommunHy mutt be
maintained to provide tha oppottunßlai tor laaderthip In policy role*
• Supporting external advocacy groups—alumni, industry, etc —ls a good
Investment. These external supporters are really a part ol this College s
community.
• Bacaua* Panneylvenla'e agricultural community tend* to be eagmanted and not
unified In He IntaraMi. there art complex expectation* tor thlt College in being
reeponetve to tha ctverea requeue for ateiitance and tupport
• Diversity In the breadth of the food and liber system In Pennsylvania is both a
strength and a challenge.
PERSONAL LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS
In addtkm to the major luuai Idantlllad In the moating, than wara aavaral point*
relating to tha tpacHlc characlarittiet ol tha Daan't portion that are uaalul to llat
• Tha Daan ol tha Collaga ol Agricultural Sdancaa, bacausa ol tha vaat, divarsa.
axtarnal cdantala baa*, hat much mora complex raaponaibllltlai than tha Oaant ol
olhar eollagai In tha Unlvattlty tyttam.
• All paopla taivad by tha Collaga naad an undaratandlng ol tha mt|or political
ratponilbllitlai ol tha Daan, both within tha Unlvaraity and In tha lagltlatlva
communltiat at at lavalt.
• Tha Daan will hava to commit to an ambWoua agenda, vialtlng and undaratandlng
.vary region ol tha tttta, at wall at undemanding the unique naadt and dlvarta
agricultural production ehallengot ol Panntyhranla
• Tha Daan naadt to be aware ol the large number ol tupportiva conttlluandat
available to Dili Collaga and anlitt their help at paitnara with Pann State
• Tha Daan wl# naad to help bring about changat allacting capital imptovamantt to
the Collage’* ItdDtiat.
• Our Daan will naad companion, undemanding, a vary itrong vltlon ol agriculture,
and tha vary clear determination and common nnn to load ut Into tha lutura
• Tha Dean mutt be tklHad In articulating tha minion ol tha Collaga. both Internally
and to tha agricultural and non-agrtcullural public Ha nndt to be a vitibla tymbol
—building on tha ttrangtht ol tha patt while providing tha vltlon lor tha 21 tl
century.
• Tha Daan mutt ba willing to drive change
"We’re proud to be part of a financially
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ADC Is the Place To Be
Financial stability and the greatest return from the marketplace
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strengths of the premier dairy cooperative in the region.
Atlantic Dairy Cooperative has a 78-year history of excellent
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Nearly 4,000 dairy farmers agree that "ADC is the Place to Be."
For free information on how you can secure the future of your
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Atlantic Dairy Cooperative
1225 Industrial Highway
Southampton, PA 18966
(Turn to Pag* A2O)
—Jeff Moore
Centreville, MD