For Mallvinder Kahal, the Almond Leadership Program has provided perspective of the almond industry as a whole and enabled him to make more informed and effective decisions. Kahal, operations manager at Kahal Farms in Madera County, Calif., is currently a participant in the program.
“The greatest benefit of the Almond Leadership Program is the people,” said Kahal. “Being surrounded by others in the industry, I’m able to learn from their perspectives, knowledge and experiences and implement them into my own operation.”
Despite being immersed in the almond industry most of his life, Kahal said the program has taught him about areas of the industry that he has not been exposed to. “Prior to joining the program, I didn’t know much about our almonds once we sent them to the processor," he explained. "This was huge for me — learning about the market, learning how the almonds are sold and the regulations and guidelines that must be followed, was very eye-opening. That part of the industry is much bigger than I imagined it was.”
During the yearlong curriculum, participants are paired with a mentor who has experience in the industry. “My mentor is part of a family with deep roots in farming in Madera," continued Kahal. "Even though my family has been in the area for nearly 30 years, my mentor has shown me a lot about the history of farming, and he is there for me when I have questions. I feel more connected to the community than ever.”
The Almond Leadership Program hosts monthly meetings at Almond Board of California (ABC) headquarters in Modesto, Calif., but participants are also able to visit and tour orchards and processing plants. “My class visited an almond tree nursery, and was able to see the grafting process and how trees were prepped. We were also able to tour a biochemical company, where chemicals that we use on our trees are produced.”
Kahal said the program has helped him become a more effective leader and has given him skills he can use in the future. “By helping me to gain a perspective on the industry as a whole, the program has enabled me to make more informed and effective decisions," he added. "I can now take a look at things from all angles, and am more well-rounded in my knowledge of the industry. This knowledge will help me be more sustainable, more efficient and the most effective leader possible when I want to expand my operation.”
The Almond Leadership Program was created by ABC to encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to become leaders in the almond community. Interested in joining? Applications for the 2017 Almond Leadership Program are available now, and will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. To apply, go to Almonds.com/Growers or contact Jenny Nicolau at jnicolau@almondboard.com.
