The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) is excited to announce a new agriculture continuing education opportunity for the Southern Maryland region. Through a partnership with the University of Maryland’s Institute for Applied Agriculture (IAA) and SMADC, two agriculture classes will be held at SMADC, located in Hughesville during the Spring of 2018.
“The University of Maryland’s Institute of Applied Agriculture is thrilled to be partnering with SMADC to bring these exciting new courses to Southern Maryland residents. To advance agriculture in the state, it’s imperative to make education accessible to the citizens. We hope this is just the beginning,” said Glori Hyman, Director of the Institute of Applied Agriculture. There are two courses offered in Southern Maryland during the Spring of 2018:
1. INAG 205: Analyzing Alternative Enterprises (3 credits): This course identifies and analyzes alternative crops, livestock, and other business enterprises. Students assess sustainability, geographic adaptability and potential profitability of businesses. Multiple guest speakers share their unique enterprise stories throughout the semester. Additionally, one field trip day will be arranged for Southern Maryland students to multiple farms in the area relevant to the course. This course is offered on Wednesday evenings January-April 2018.
2. INAG 132: Agricultural Leadership and Communication (3 credits): This course introduces fundamental concepts related to leadership and teamwork in agricultural organizations. Topics include leadership practices and skills; relationships between leadership, authority, power, and ethics; team decision-making and management; and organizational culture and change. Students will develop effective leadership skills necessary for leading agricultural organizations. This course is offered on Tuesday evenings January-April 2018.
To enroll in the Ag Class Partnership and register for one or both of these courses, complete the UMD IAA registration process and mail no later than December 15, 2017. Once enrolled, SMADC scholarships are available (apply here).
“These courses were conceived out of a partnership with the college to bring a unique opportunity to graduating high school seniors, college students, and any farmers over the age of 18, looking for continuing education in the field of agriculture. By having these courses locally we hope to incentivize good attendance and provide a much needed opportunity for the community, without having to travel too far from home,” said Shelby Watson-Hampton, Director of SMADC.
Read the full details at www.SMADC.com/ageducation. For questions, contact us at 301-274-1922 x.1 or email us at info@smadc.com.