HABESHA Agriculture Leadership Opportunity (HALO Program)

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, focus group, mentoring, networking, participatory research, study circle, technical assistance, workshop
• Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, agritourism, apprentice/intern training, budgets/cost and returns, feasibility study, financial management, grant making
• Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, community development, community services, employment opportunities, ethnic differences/cultural and demographic change, leadership development, partnerships, urban agriculture

The HALO Program incorporated in-­class lectures paired with homework assignments, independent research, field trips and immersion experiences for practical application of learning concepts. The 7-month curriculum focused on advanced farm planning, business education and leadership skills as they relate and can be applied to participants' current businesses and initiatives. Subjects included:

• Implementing an Organic Systems Plan;
• Retail Readiness;
• Branding and Marketing;
• Financing;
• Succession Planning;
• Accessing USDA­ Funding;
• Emotional Intelligence, Relationship Building,  and Conflict Resolution; and
• Organizational Development & Management

The HALO Program sets forth the following objectives, which are established to address the environmental , economic and social-emotional components as defined by the program's definition of sustainability.  This included:  

1. Over the first year period, the HALO program provided practical education on how to make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on­-farm resources for 12 farmers on how to write and follow an organic system plan. 
2. Delivering managerial and business education that focused on the proper use of human, financial, and environmental resources to support operations in a more sustainable way, and also how to identify and engage in business relationships creating more opportunities for economic sustainability and growth. 
3. Provided leadership training that focused on emotional intelligence, relationship building, conflict resolution, and organizing and planning to expand the leadership capabilities of urban farmers, agriculture-­based business owners, and related advocates.