The LEADelaware agriculture and natural resources leadership program has launched its third class of 11 Fellows, who will spend the next two years building their skills and learning about agriculture, state and national government and natural resources.

The participants for the 2013-2015 class are: Mike Clay, farmer, Middletown; Ben Snow, farmer, Smyrna; Robert Baldwin, Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control; Paul Shipper, MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Magnolia; Lauren Torres, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Felton; Ben Coverdale,  Delaware Department of Agriculture, Harrington; Jim Hughes, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Lincoln; Trudy Kruger, farmer, Georgetown; Philip Dukes, farmer, Milton; Linda Wright, farmer, Laurel; Haley Brennan, farmer, Delmar.

“This class is a great blend of full-time farmers and the people that work every day to serve our agricultural heritage,” said LEADelaware Program Instructor Tom Ilvento, a University of Delaware professor. “They are the next generation of leaders within our state.”

There will be 10 sessions beginning Nov. 6-8 in Rehoboth Beach. Participants will attend other meetings held in Delaware and Washington, D.C., as well as an international trip near the end of the program.