LEAF: Leadership Education for Ag Employers and Farmers

Becoming the Employer of Choice (BTEC) for Veg Farmers has a new name! Introducing LEAF: Leadership Education for Ag Employers and Farmers. Same great content, same farmer-to-farmer learning.

Building a successful vegetable farm business where both production and human relations are thriving is no easy task - yet both sides of the equation are essential. Even so, it’s not uncommon for farmers to feel unprepared or uncomfortable in their role as a boss. 

The LEAF program was created to help vegetable farmers address this exact need.

Being a boss and leading a team requires a set of skills somewhat different from those used on the production side of things. And while making time to strengthen those skills can be challenging, it can pay off for farmers in big ways - from improved efficiency and product quality to higher employee satisfaction, labor retention, and overall quality of life.

“This program is so valuable! Whether you are an experienced employer or just hiring your first employee, it will give you so many tools to create or improve your job descriptions, employee manual, training documents, and employee relationships. The associated resources are pure gold, and the teachers are experienced farmers who have put into practice everything they teach.” - 2025 LEAF participant

Throughout LEAF's 8 sessions, you’ll learn with and from your farmer peers. We will dig into more concrete topics like hiring, onboarding, training, reviews, and feedback. We’ll also explore farm culture, intercultural competence, and emotional intelligence - topics that may feel less tangible but have an important role to play in the overall farm environment. As a LEAF participant, you’ll also have access to an ever-growing online library of supportive resources that will help you put what we talk about during our sessions into action.

All sessions are on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00-11:00 Central Time

Recordings of past classes are available when you purchase the full series.

• Nov 9: Strategic Leadership

• Nov 12: Farm Business Culture

• Nov 16; Developing Intercultural Competence

• Nov 19: Developing a Motivated Workforce

• Nov 23: Building an Effective Hiring Process

• Nov 30: Lightly facilitated open discussion

• Dec 3: Onboarding and Training

• Dec 7: Engaging with Conflict

• Dec 10: Reviews and Feedback

If you're an experienced farmer serving in an employer or manager role, LEAF is the program for you. Most LEAF participants have 8 or more years of farming experience. If you're an aspiring or early-career manager - or you're an employer who would like to connect your crew with a companion training program - consider joining us for the TEAMs program in March 2027.

LEAF is cohosted by Dane County Extension, UW’s Soil Health and Agroecological Living Lab, and FairShare CSA Coalition. Contact Sarah Janes Ugoretz (sarah.janesugoretz@wisc.edu) with questions.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.

This event will be conducted in English. You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language or format, or other services to make this event more accessible. Contact Sarah Janes Ugoretz at sarah.janesugoretz@wisc.edu or 262-825-8877 by Thursday, October 26th. There is no added cost to you for these services.