**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AS AMERICA'S WORKFORCE CHANGES, SO DOES THE NATURE OF THE WORK AND SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS. AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS ARE INCREASINGLY IN NEED OF A WORKFORCE THAT EFFECTIVELY ENGAGES IN COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP. THIS PROJECT WILL DESIGN, DEVELOP, AND EVALUATE CURRICULA FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO USE TO PREPARE THE AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE TO: (1) ENHANCE THE AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM'S CORE CURRICULUM WITH PRACTICAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP APPROPRIATE FOR WORKPLACE SUCCESS; (2) ADAPT AND EXTEND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP CURRICULA FOR USE WITH THE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM'S AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS; AND (3) CREATE REUSABLE LEARNING OBJECTS THAT ALLOW APPLICATION OF THE COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP CURRICULA IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES PROGRAMS AT OTHER COMMUNITY, JUNIOR, AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES/INSTITUTES. THIS FIVE-YEAR PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING MAJOR PHASES: (I) DEVELOP AND PILOT THE COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM FOR USE WITH THE AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM AT VIRGINIA TECH; (II) CONDUCT A FORMATIVE AND PROCESS EVALUATION TO CLARIFY NEEDS FOR FURTHER ATTENTION AND DEVELOPMENT; (III) ADAPT AND PILOT CURRICULA FOR USE WITH VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM; (IV) IMPLEMENT AN OUTCOME EVALUATION THAT PROMOTES ONGOING MONITORING AND ADJUSTMENT; AND (V) DISSEMINATE REUSABLE LEARNING OBJECTS FOR USE BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE MUCH-NEEDED CURRICULAR RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES PROGRAMS AT COMMUNITY, JUNIOR, AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES/INSTITUTES. EMPLOYERS WILL BENEFIT FROM A WORKFORCE EFFECTIVELY TRAINED IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES OF COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP. IN RETURN, SOCIETY WILL BENEFIT FROM A WELL-MANAGED AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM.