Leadership development resides in the context of a community or organization

and must answer the question, "leadership for what?" (Foster, 2000). This study will

attempt to provide a basis for the "what" for the FFBF. It will provide research that will

allow the state organization to customize a leadership development program for its

membership with the expectations that after members go through this training they will

have the leadership background necessary to become effective leaders not only in the

Farm Bureau organization, but in their homes, businesses, and communities. The effects

of a leadership development program for Farm Bureau members could be far reaching,

but before those effects can be felt, desired leadership practices must be identified,

existing behavior in current leaders must be determined, "gaps" between desired practices

and existing behavior must be identified, current leadership practices must be explained

and the motivators of individuals to take on additional leadership responsibilities must be

determined.

 FFBF needs a leadership-training program for county board members that range

from having little experience to years of experience. They also need to know what

motivates individuals who belong to the organization to become more involved. The

organization needs to have its members participate more in the programs that are offered

to the county Farm Bureaus and needs to have its members know more about the

organization as a whole (P. Cockrell, personal communication, September 10, 2002).

 Problem Statement

 American agriculture is at a critical juncture. If current policies and trends are left

in place for another generation, there will be little left of traditional American agriculture