Agribusiness conference begins
By Other
Published in News on January 30, 2005 2:09 AM
MOUNT OLIVE - Mount Olive College will kick-off a four-day Agribusiness Professional Development Conference today directed to young farmers and cooperative extension agents.
The conference, sponsored by Altria-Shared Solutions, will cover the economics of farming, environmental aspects of farming and social enhancement of the farm community with knowledge of business skills in an ever-changing economic environment.
A group of 25 participants have been selected to participate in the conference, which will introduce young farm families to the personal and business management tools required to succeed in agribusiness and provide them with resources to become future and successful leaders in rural North Carolina.
Dr. Bill Collins, coordinator of Tobacco Programs at North Carolina State University, will discuss the "Future of Tobacco and Agricultural Leadership in Eastern North Carolina" at the kick-off event today. The event, which is open to the public, will begin with a pig pickin' at 6 p.m. in the Lois K. Murphy Regional Center on the campus of Mount Olive College.
Dr. Don Scott, director of the Agribusiness Center at Mount Olive College, said the college is grateful to Altria-Shared Solutions for their support of the conference in Eastern North Carolina and to Collins for providing the keynote address.
"Participants of the conference will hopefully gain the personal and business tools they need to succeed in their agribusiness, as they become future leaders in a dynamic rural North Carolina," said Scott. It is our desire that attendees will leave the conference with a better understanding of the business dynamics of their farm and family finances, the business, social and environmental dynamics of their farm and their stewardship within the state and their position as an agribusiness person in a global food and fiber production arena."
Scott said the mission of the Agribusiness Center is aligned with the Altria-Shared Solutions program goals in that the college's instruction and leadership programs are designed to teach the principles of the Triple Bottom Line, which is economic feasiblity, environmental responsibility and social responsibility.