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Ali Gotcher, an animal sciences and forages agent with Alabama Extension at Auburn University, recently graduated from the Agricultural Leaders for Alabama (A.L.F.A. Leaders) program.

Gotcher was one of 18 agricultural professionals selected to participate in the competitive, two-year leadership program. Since 2023, she attended six intensive leadership institutes over 40 days. Those included trips to Montgomery, Alabama, and Washington, D.C., which focused on understanding policy making and grassroots advocacy.

“The Leaders program was an invaluable experience,” Gotcher said. “I appreciate the Alabama Farmers Federation for making it a priority to teach us the leadership and ideal team player skills to work towards a common goal of improving Alabama agriculture.”

Additionally, the 18 members of A.L.F.A. Leaders Class VI completed and presented a capstone project about workforce development.

“The challenge of creating an impactful capstone project truly shaped us into better leaders,” Gotcher said. “We came together to create a blueprint on tackling agriculture workforce development in Alabama, and I am extremely proud of the work and research we accomplished. Our three-step solution would incorporate a marketing campaign for Alabama agriculture, create educational pathways for agriculture careers and address the lack of succession planning on farms. My hope is that our capstone will inspire other leaders within the state to help us implement the charge to improve our workforce and keep farms in Alabama farming.”

Becky Barlow, who serves as Alabama Extension Associate Dean and Assistant Director for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, commended Gotcher’s dedication to leadership development.

“When Ali asked me if it would be possible to participate in the A.L.F.A. Leaders program, I did not hesitate to say yes,” Barlow said. “Ali has quickly become one of our leaders not only on our Alabama Extension Animal Sciences and Forages team, but also in Extension programs across the state. It is evident that she regularly uses what she learned to improve her Extension programming and to also provide leadership to the Animal Sciences and Forages team.”

The A.L.F.A. Leaders program is administered through the Alabama Farmers Federation. Learn more in their press release.