Agricultural Technology Leadership Course: Spring 2025 Projects

This spring, students in the Agricultural Technology Program at Virginia Tech continued their journey through Project-Based Learning (PBL) in the Leadership class, applying their skills to real-world challenges and refining essential competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication.

Instructor Rose Jeter emphasized the value of this hands-on approach: “I think it’s important for students to engage with industry representatives, tackle real-world problems, and work as a team to practice all the skills they have learned in our program. Our leadership class provides a safe space for students to try different approaches to teamwork and communication while implementing what they have learned in other classes.”

Spring 2025 Projects

This year, students partnered with Saunders Brothers, a third-generation family business located in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Founded in 1915, Saunders Brothers operates a wholesale nursery, orchard, and farm market, shipping over 1,100 products throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Students tackled two key challenges:

  • Dormant Land Use Strategy Saunders Brothers sought guidance on repurposing land that had been in fruit production for over 50 years but is now dormant. Students explored sustainable and profitable land-use options aligned with the company’s long-term goals.

  • Enhancing the Hort Pro Training Program The company’s entry-level grower leadership program, Hort Pro, introduces new hires to all aspects of operations. With recruitment becoming increasingly difficult, students were tasked with improving the program to boost engagement and retention, helping Saunders Brothers build a more enthusiastic and committed workforce.

Course Structure and Projects

The Leadership class is designed to immerse students in practical, team-based projects. Teams of four to five students are formed using personality assessments and academic preferences to ensure diverse perspectives and effective collaboration. Each team works independently to address a specific challenge presented by an industry partner.

Weekly “power meetings” allow students to share progress and receive feedback, while additional class time is dedicated to leadership topics such as motivation, planning, time management, network weaving, and professional etiquette. The course concludes with a final report and presentation delivered to industry representatives, faculty, and guests.

Student Experience and Impact

We are incredibly grateful to Jim Saunders, Chief Management Officer, and Annie Saunders, Director of Human Resources at Saunders Brothers Farm Market, for their invaluable support and collaboration throughout the semester. Their insights, time, and thoughtful project development made a lasting impact on our students.

At the final presentations, Jim Saunders joined us to evaluate each team’s proposal and selected the winning project. Congratulations to the winning team: Allison Bower, Brooklyn Hensley, Jack Lowery, Nathan Pratt, and Melody Simpson for their outstanding work!

The Agricultural Technology program remains committed to preparing students for successful careers by equipping them with the skills and confidence to meet industry needs. If you’re interested in partnering with us to provide future project opportunities, please contact Rose Jeter at rosejeter@vt.edu.

Jim speaking to the class