LEADelaware

10/05/2026

Introducing our Class VIII Fellows!

Meet Taieshia Hyacinth! With more than 20 years of experience in retail banking, commercial banking, and asset management, she combines financial expertise with agriculture to advance financial literacy and economic opportunity for small farmers while strengthening Delaware agriculture through niche crop production.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she has resided in Dover, Delaware since 2010. She is passionate about food sovereignty and farmer empowerment, and in her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and dancing.

09/17/2026

📣 Let’s Discuss Leadership Rooted in Agriculture & Natural Resources!🌾

Sudden weather changes have brought about all sorts of unexpected challenges, from excessive rain to extreme heat. What’s something that has helped you handle these challenges and have you learned any leadership lessons?

09/03/2026

📣 Introducing our Class VIII Fellows! 🌾

Meet Tyler Gill! ✨ He grew up in Greensboro, Maryland but has lived in Greenwood, Delaware since 2022. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, hunting, and spending time with his family.

08/31/2026

We are expanding our social media! ✨ Come follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn 📣

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leadelawareprogram/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadelaware

08/31/2026

📣Introducing our Class VIII Fellows!🌾

Meet Greg Dempsey!✨ Raised in the Dover area, Greg continues to farm the land that has been part of his family for generations and takes pride in carrying that legacy forward🚜 Greg enjoys exploring new technologies that can improve farm efficiency and sustainability while continuing to strengthen the family farm for future generations. Outside of farming, he values spending time with family and finding ways to support and advocate for Delaware agriculture.

08/13/2026

Cohort VIII just finished their 4th session in their two year journey with LEADelaware!

Over 2 days, fellows met with leaders within the agriculture community, exploring grain and research facilities while discussing important issues in the Delaware agriculture communities.

Tuesday - Fellows explore the facilities at Perdue AgriBusiness where they learned about the different ways grain is utilized to create oil and feed. Afterwards they enjoyed a refreshing lunch while learning about the intricacies of grain marketing. The fellows ended the day by visiting Atlantic Tractor for a precision tool discussion and demonstration.

Wednesday - Fellows spent the day at the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center. They got to learn about several research areas such as using precision ag data and seed advances. During the agricultural drone discussion and demonstration, several fellows got the opportunity to take control and become drone pilots. The day ended with discussions about succession planning and how they can use the GROW model to help others develop and move forward.

07/14/2026

📣Introducing our Class VIII Fellows!🌾

Meet Scott Hudson!✨ He has called Laurel home
his whole life & enjoys hunting🏹 and fishing🎣, as well as taking his family out on his farm🚜

07/08/2026

📸 Behind the lens with our UD Extension Scholar! 🌾

Meet Jessica Compton, a PhD student in Communications at the University of Delaware, who is spending her summer helping us elevate and develop marketing materials for the LEADelaware program.

Jessica was captured here in action this June, photographing our incredible LEADelaware fellows during their recent tour of Brittingham Farms in Millsboro. We love seeing our scholars merge their academic expertise with real-world agricultural leadership!

Thank you, Jessica, for helping us tell the story of Delaware agriculture and leadership development. 💙🐓

06/29/2026

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is seeking a Training and Education Specialist II to coordinate communications, provide logistical support, and facilitate the instruction of leadership principles for LEADelaware. If you are passionate about supporting agricultural training and leadership for youth and adults in Delaware, apply by July 2! 🌱📣

We are hiring for .

06/12/2026

Cohort VIII just finished their 3rd session in their two year journey with LEADelaware!

Over 2 days, fellows met with leaders within the aquaculture and forestry communities, exploring facilities and engaging in academic discussions about the current issues facing the Delaware agriculture communities.

Monday - Fellows explored the hatchery at University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment before discussing the aquaculture industry over a scenic lunch with Arrowhead Point Oysters, DE Center for the Inland Bays, and Delaware State University- Small Farms Program at Brittingham Farms. Of course they took a break to small the lavender fields and pet the lambs before heading to Lasher Lab to learn about biosafety poultry diagnostics.

Tuesday - Fellows hiked through Blackbird State Forest and Hardwood Mills while learning about the Delaware forestry industry from the Delaware Forest Service. They ended their 2 day adventure with an animated discussion with Delaware DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife about deer damage in Delaware.