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Are You Wedgworthy? Watch & find out!
Many of you have requested this video for various presentations, etc. that you may be doing in regards to the program and/or agricultural leadership. The video can be found here.
Follow Class VIII in their Adventures!
Class VIII ain't your father's WLI class--they have taken the program to higher technological leaps by delving deeper into social media and “tweeting” throughout their seminars. If you are on Twitter and want to follow their adventures, please follow “WedgworthLeader”. If you're not into Twitter, Class VIII will also blog about their experiences—you can read about their seminars at http://wlianr.blogspot.com. Check this site often to follow the adventures of Class VIII!
You can also view their latest "Let's Reflect" newsletter by clicking here.
Thanks to Kevin Kent, media specialist for the Center for Public Issues Education, who produced a video highlighting Class VIII's Seminar II's adventures. The video can be found on the front page of the WLI website: http://wlianr.ifas.ufl.edu. The WLI is pleased to have Kevin working part-time for us as well—and we thank him for putting this wonderful video together!
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Reflecting on the Loss of a Friend to Wedgworth
  
We have heavy hearts learning of Dr. Burl Long’s passing on December 19. The Wedgworth Leadership Program would not be what it is without Dr. Long's enthusiasm, guidance and ability to make participants think more "reflectively."
Dr. Long had an unbelievably rare talent to relate to any person, from any walk of life, no matter any personal differences. Anyone blessed enough to know Dr. Long will forever be enriched by his friendship. He has touched many, many lives and Florida agriculture and natural resource industries are better for his impact.
Dr. Long's obituary appeared in the Gainesville Sun--here is the link:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gainesville/obituary.aspx?n=burl-franklin-long&pid=155162916. In his obituary you will find information regarding donations in his name to a pancreatic research fund.
Dr. Long’s Celebration of Life service will be on Saturday, February 11th at 3:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church at 4225 NW 34th Street in Gainesville, FL. Afterward, people are invited to the Long’s residence.
Class II alumni Rick Roth attributes much of his and his farm’s success on his father, saying, “Dad taught me honesty, the value of hard work, and how to treat people.”
Rick and his farm were recently featured in a Southeast Farm Press article. Roth Farms is one of the most diversified farming operations in Florida producing sugar cane, radishes, lettuce and leafy vegetables, Chinese cabbage, parsley, sweet corn, green beans and rice, in addition to palm trees and other landscaping plants. The farm also includes a 60,000 square foot state-of-the-art packinghouse. Rick continues his father's lifework, who began farming in the area in 1948.
To read the article, click here.
Class II's Bob Adair was featured in the November, 2011 Farm Press article about the Florida Research Center’s activities and research of better ways to control the ever-growing list of citrus diseases. Currently at the top of the list is citrus greening disease or Huanglongbing (HLB). At the forefront of his current research activities is the investigation of new nutrient forms for use within a foliar fertilization program as a means to reduce tree stress and slow the disease progress that will hopefully increase the productive life span of symptomatic trees. HLB, a bacterial disease native to China, “undoubtedly poses the most serious threat that the Florida citrus industry has ever faced”, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bob is the executive director at the Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability, Inc. (FLARES).
 Carlton Ward (Class VII) will begin a nearly 1,000-mile trek through the Florida peninsula to highlight the need for maintaining a habitat corridor through the area. He’ll join a biologist, a conservationist and a filmmaker to document their journey and share their story. Carlton is quoted in a story published by FloridaEnvironments.com, “I would like state leaders to keep Florida’s green infrastructure and agriculture production as a priority,” he said. “Just in those simple terms, this is important. This is our last chance to get it right.” To read the rest of the story, click here.
Dr. Carter's father succumbs to cancer
Dr. Hannah Carter’s father passed away on December 28 after a valiant battle with cancer. Dr. Carter, the director of the The Wedgworth Leadership Institute, attributes her love of agriculture to her father, who led a rich life of a woodsman, river man, trapper, farmer, and owner/guide/cook of the Munsungan Hunting and Fishing Club in northern Maine.
A link to Jim Carter's obituary can be found here. In lieu of flowers, a tribute account has been established in Jim Carter’s name for memorial contributions to The Nature Conservancy (#1109129) or donations may be made to Hospice of Aroostook. Memories and condolences maybe shared with the family at www.lancastermorgan.com
You can send Dr. Carter your condolences at
PO Box 112060
121 A Bryant Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611
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More than 20 years of
growing agricultural leaders!
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WLI Well Represented at the Candidates Forum
at the FNGLA Landscape Show
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The Mason G. Smoak Foundation, named after an alumni of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute (Class V), was founded in 2008 after his tragic death. Mason Smoak had the rare spirit of lending a helping hand and impacting his community in positive ways. These exceptional characteristics live on through the Foundation, which is a faith-based organization that partners with nonprofits dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children, and will assist those who suddenly find themselves in need. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting education, preserving and protecting the environment and fostering opportunities for leadership development.
The Mason G. Smoak Foundation Family Fun Day and 5K Run is Saturday, October 8th in Lake Placid. There is a group of dedicated Class VIII members and WLI alumni who are spearheading fundraising efforts for this event and have provided sponsorships for the 5K.
WLI will be a event t-shirt sleeve sponsor for the 5K run. As part of the day's festivities, the foundation is kicking off its first Youth Leadership Highlands class for high school sophomores to learn leadership skills and more about their county. WLI's very own Dr. Carter will be leading the first seminar along with making the Smoak Foundation her first 5K event. Talk about comfort zones! Please consider a donation to the Foundation, marked WLI sponsorship, and show support for a great idea with youth leadership training. If you would like to be part of the Team WLI and either participate in the 5K or make a donation, please contact Staci Braswell at Staci.Braswell@ffbf.org.
The Foundation hopes to raise support to meet the mission of the organization and continue to build an endowment, which will fund the Foundation for many years to come. Annual gifts to the Foundation will do just that, help to meet the needs of the community and establish a legacy which will have an impact well into the future.
The Leadership Circle of the Mason G. Smoak Foundation seeks to annually fund the programs and endowment of the Foundation. Through leadership level annual gifts, grants and scholarships will be awarded and the endowment will grow to continue funding the Foundation for years to come. Click here to learn how you can continue Mason’s efforts of making the world a better place.
Please mail your check with a notation somewhere that states your class (if applicable) and made payable to the Mason G. Smoak Foundation and mail to:
Wes Wheeler
P.O. Box 1396
Winter Haven, FL 33882-1396
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The mission of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute Alumni Association:
To build and maintain a broad-based network of leaders committed to promoting Florida agriculture and natural resources and expanding the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The vision of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute Alumni Association:
To be the premier networking association for agriculture and natural resource leaders in Florida.
For more information, please visit the main website of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute
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