Agricultural communications is an ever-more relevant subset of the industry that involves clearly and accurately connecting the public to the science, business and culture of agriculture.

“I view the field of agricultural communications as a bridge between the 1.6% of people who work in agriculture and everyone else,” Cletzer said. “Agriculture has a lot of the same issues as science — growing distrust of experts and institutions, lack of information or disinformation about methods, and concerns about ethics and values — and ag communications professionals tell agriculture’s story and build trust with the public.”

As professor of practice, Cletzer practices what he teaches. He directs the agricultural communications and leadership studies programs while writing research stories and press releases for the college’s Office of Communications & Marketing.

pon his hire in 2023, Cletzer received the green light from Associate Dean for Instruction Amy Wright to revamp both the agricultural communications major and agricultural leadership studies minor.

The minor in ag leadership was technically in place when Adam arrived, but it was essentially defunct because the two required courses hadn’t been taught in six years.

“So, I recreated those courses for today’s world — one for leading teams and another for making change in communities,” Cletzer said. “I also changed the minor’s requirements so it’s more flexible to students’ interests.”

Today, the 15-credit-hour minor includes the two required courses — AGRI 3800: Leading People and Teams in Agriculture and AGRI 5840: Leading Organizational and Community Change in Agriculture — and offers a selection of additional courses on everything from global issues in agriculture to environment, society and justice.

Cletzer’s background is in agricultural leadership studies. He received his doctorate in leadership development and social change from Virginia Tech University and master’s in agricultural education and communications from University of Florida. Prior to joining the Auburn faculty, he taught at the University of Missouri.

He brings a new approach to leadership to the college, one that asks, “What if we view leadership not as a role but a relationship?” — a question he asked himself in his Ph.D.

“We underestimate how much the Industrial Revolution impacted the way we think about, well, everything,” Cletzer said. “The traditional view of leadership is that it is something that emanates from the leader — a property, trait or set of behaviors. That is an industrial way of thinking about it, as a product.”

Cletzer said in the early 2000s, leadership scholars began to look at other metaphors for how leadership develops.

“One of those was ecosystems,” he said. “It’s this idea that an ecosystem is not linear. It is not a simple cause and effect. An ecosystem is rife with feedback loops — it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back or the last snowflake that caused an avalanche.”

The resulting conclusion was that leadership is as much a relationship between a leader and followers as it is a set of characteristics.

“The other aspects to consider are sort of economical,” Cletzer explained. “As people became more educated and demanded more autonomy, they were less apt to walk into the workplace and say, ‘Tell me what to do, boss.’

“Leaders are less and less the people who know how to do everything, because everything is increasingly more complicated. So, we’re seeing that leaders are more facilitators, people who bring other people together that have the expertise to solve complex problems.”

n many ways, this is what Cletzer has done for the ag comm program at Auburn. He created an advisory committee comprising Auburn agriculture and journalism administrators, faculty and advisors, as well as students and industry leaders from organizations like Alfa, Sweet Grown Alabama, the Alabama Cattleman’s Association and more.

Meanwhile, he revamped the curriculum by looking carefully at the program’s strengths and weaknesses, determined to fill gaps.

“Ag comm has a couple accepted competency frameworks,” Cletzer said. “Basically, experts have said ‘here are the 50 things they need to be good at.’ So, I looked at the curriculum, looked at every one of those courses and their course descriptions, and checked off those competencies. When done, I could see that this program looked like a traditional ag journalism program would have — strong in writing and storytelling — but there were huge holes for design and comms strategy.”

Today, the agricultural communications program is designed to produce graduates who possess exceptional communication skills meshed with a strong science-based background in agriculture and natural resources. This combination of technical subject matter knowledge and communication skills is not found in other curricula, according to Cletzer.

“One of the things that sets ag comm apart is that the students who graduate do have some technical expertise compared to those who graduated from a school of journalism,” he said. “They have the communication skills but may not have any particular contextual skills. I think our students are more marketable because they have both.

“They don’t need to be four courses deep in ruminant nutrition, but they do need to understand the struggles of the industry so they can form a rapport.”

Senior agricultural communications major Breanna Black said Cletzer’s efforts have made the program more welcoming to students.

“He has allowed me to share my thoughts and opinions about the program,” she said. “As a student, I really appreciate him taking the time to hear my concerns and ideas. He was one of the first professors I met when I transferred to Auburn – and what better person to represent Auburn faculty than him. His love for his profession and his students is admirable, as well as his efforts to make the agricultural communications degree program better.”

In revamping the curriculum, Cletzer set out to make it both broader — covering a wider range of agricultural subjects and communications specialties — and more specialized.

“We added a pre-law option,” he said. “I wanted to make the curriculum as broad as possible, but that stresses out the students who like structure. So, we went back in and added that option, and we had people in it immediately. Now, we’re adding new ones, too, in magazine writing and non-formal ed.”

In cultivating these programs and the students within them, the College of Agriculture is reaping the rewards of its investment. Enrollment in agricultural communications is the highest it’s been in five years, according to Cletzer, and it continues to grow.

Under Cletzer’s leadership, agricultural communications and leadership studies have become fertile ground for collaboration, innovation and growth. And as graduates carry Auburn’s values and voice into the wider world, they can see themselves as part of something larger: an ecosystem of ideas and relationships that defines modern agriculture.

In 2013, after earning a football scholarship for his offseason hard work but playing briefly in only three games on special teams as an undersized defensive back, he had a chance to impress NFL scouts at Auburn’s Pro Day and possibly pursue a professional career. But rather than spend the weekend before the event training or resting, Poole spent his time working on the family farm.

“I was kind of nervous about running today because I stayed outside a lot this past weekend working on my farm,” Poole told a reporter at the time, after turning heads by flying through a 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds and posting a 38-inch vertical leap, second-best on the team. “I was a little tired, but at the same time I felt pretty good.”

But while Poole impressed the scouts in attendance with one of the best physical performances of the day, football had never been his first love. He had grown up a farm-loving country boy, the son of a Georgia State Trooper, and his love for farming and cattle ranching meant he had a plan beyond sports.

“After prep school I got a call from Auburn Assistant Coach Wayne Bolt asking if I wanted to come be a preferred walk-on,” Poole recalled. “I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to be a walk-on and I’m definitely not going to Auburn.’

“But my dad said I should give it a chance and just go see. So, my mom, dad, cousin and I got into the truck and headed on down. I remember this like it was yesterday, getting off the I-85 exit onto College Street and seeing chicken houses and big black Angus bulls. I was like, wow! That’s what really sold me on Auburn.”

Poole may not have seen the field much as a walk-on with the Tiger football team, but he did earn an SEC championship ring and get to go to Pasadena for the national championship game as a member of the 2013 squad. And he made a strong impression on his coaches with his infectious smile and strong country work ethic.

“I used to tell Blake he was the only player who had as many pairs of cowboy boots as I did,” remembered Phillip Lolley, who was defensive backs coach on Head Coach Guz Malzahn’s national title runner-up team that year. “He was a humble kid who worked his tail off and gave 110 percent in practice every day. He came ready to work and did whatever you asked him to do with a smile on his face.”

That positive attitude and willingness to work carried Poole through some difficult times trying to manage both football and academics.

“I had a great support system at Auburn,” Poole said. “But there were many times when I had to pull all-nighters so I could pass a test. I’m from a small town and I didn’t want to be that guy who came back home because he didn’t make it. I wanted to give up so many times and go back home to Georgia, but my professors always stepped in.”

A self-professed country boy himself, Foshee quickly realized Poole was a kindred spirit, and he became a mentor and more to him during his sometimes challenging efforts to balance football and schoolwork. Poole eventually even roomed with Foshee’s two sons on campus.

“Blake had to work extra hard and sometimes struggled with the load, but he never quit,” Foshee said. “He was blessed to have an amazing family at home, and in the college and athletics as well. He was also a true student-athlete, and most of all, a real Auburn man.”

Don Mulvaney, now a retired professor emeritus of animal sciences, has similar memories of Poole the student.

“Blake carried himself with a quiet humility and curiosity that set him apart,” Mulvaney explained. “Like many memorable students, his journey was one of growth and perseverance. He didn’t start as the loudest voice in the room, but rather as a humble leader who led by example. He was steady, kind and reliable — a ‘teammate’ in every sense of the word. He lifted others up and infused the class with a sense of optimism and encouragement.”

Like Foshee, Mulvaney has stayed in touch with Poole over the more than a decade since, following his career and speaking with him regularly.

“Blake represents the very best of the Auburn spirit — grounded in integrity, guided by service and driven by the belief that good relationships and hard work still matter,” Mulvaney said. “He’s a reminder of why those connections between teachers and students endure long after the classroom lights are turned off.

“He often talked about his upbringing, his family’s values and his dream of one day owning a Brahman cattle operation — conversations that revealed deep roots, great upbringing and big vision. I also recall moments where Blake had hopes of playing some professional football. But true to his reflective and grounded nature, he sought purpose beyond the playing field.”

“What first got me into politics was my dad,” Poole noted. “When he was a trooper, he was on the detail for Guy Millner, a candidate for Georgia governor back in the 1990s. When my dad retired, he ran for the office of Haralson County Commission chairman and eventually served four terms.

“So, I learned from my dad how to serve people and do what is right. He is my rock and the foundation of who I am today. He is also now the director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for the State of Georgia.”

Although the chance to work for the Secretary of State’s Office was a great opportunity and meant getting back into the political arena he had enjoyed before, Poole still hesitated before taking the job.

“I was thinking to myself ‘I have a company truck, I get to see farmers every day, wear jeans and chew tobacco, why would I trade that in to go work in government?’ And on top of that, Brian Kemp was running for governor. But I took the job because I wanted to be closer to my cows, and I knew in my heart he was going to win.”

“Being a field rep for the Governor’s Office is like going through two-a-days during fall football camp every day,” Poole explained. “At the same time, it’s one of the most rewarding things ever. I often thank the Lord for choosing me to do this.

“I get so many calls from people needing help that my day never ends” he concluded. “I’m on call 24/7 and always have my phone with me. But coming from a family who likes to help, I was born for this. One thing about being from the rural part of the state is that we have good neighbors and family that help out. So, I’m going to keep on doing it. It’s not about me it’s about the people.”

“She’s done a really good job of tailoring the work to where their interests lie,” Braswell said. “If they want to go pre-vet or barn management or another direction — and we’ve had them go all different directions.”

Nick Williams started working in the barn in January 2022. Williams didn’t grow up with horses, but he needed experience with animals and a job as a pre-vet student. He started as a barn hand, cleaning stalls and feeding and medicating horses. He then moved into an equine intern position, caring for horses that were sick or injured, while also helping to keep the performance horses in top condition.

“As part of that role, I assisted with daily therapy routines to support the horses’ health and performance,” he said. “This included using MagnaWave, cold laser, Theraplate, BEMER, and massage gun treatments on non-meet days and as preparation leading up to competitions.”

While working in the barn, he noticed a man who would come weekly to shoe the horses.

“At the time, I didn’t know what a farrier was, but watching him work immediately caught my interest,” he said. “One day I saw that he was missing his helper, so I asked if he needed a hand. He let me help, and the next week I started working with him regularly.

“From that point on, I completely fell in love with the trade.”

Williams graduated in May with a degree in animal sciences- allied industries and is headed to Five Star Horseshoeing School in Minco, Oklahoma, in October.

“For the past three years, I’ve been apprenticing under (Certified Farrier) Andrew Wells, which has given me a strong foundation and confirmed that this is the career I want to pursue.”

He credited the Equestrian Center with not only introducing him to the trade he’s become so passionate about, but with the determination needed for animal care.

“It showed me that not everyone is meant for this job,” he said. “That it takes hard work and dedication, long hours, and grit.”

“I always knew I wanted to work with animals, but I didn’t really have anybody telling me how to do that,” said Coker, who rode horses as a child. “I had a friend that worked in the barn, and she said that they were hiring. So, I started as a student worker, and realized how much I loved it and how much I wanted to do that for the rest of my life.”

When Coker moved into the internship role in the barn, she took on new duties in addition to those she had as a student-worker, including training new hires and working on meet days to care for the horses.

“They learn a thing or two about working with horses,” Braswell joked. “You know, do I want to be up at 6 a.m. doing this? Do I want to be in the heat? Because you do have to love it.”

Coker agreed.

“To normal people, I describe my job like, ‘I get there at 6 a.m. and I leave covered in mud and dirt,’” she said. “And they’re like, ‘Why do you enjoy doing that?’

“I never get sick of it. Ever.”

When Coker switched to the animal sciences major, she understood that securing internships was an important part of gaining relevant work experience. She applied for several internships outside of Auburn, securing one at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, Florida.

At Peterson-Smith — an equine hospital open 24 hours a day, seven day a week — Coker worked 60 hours a week, day shifts and night shifts. She gained increase experience in equine care, including watching surgeries and administering treatments.

The experience was so formative, her plan after graduation is to move back to Ocala, where horse farms and equine hospitals are popular and the opportunities in the industry are numerous.

Coker credits Renfroe with helping her gain the necessary experience to be career ready, beyond her duties as Coker’s supervisor.

“She encouraged me through the Peterson Smith process, changing my major, everything,” Coker said. “And we know that she would never ask anybody who works for her to do something that she wouldn’t do herself. This work can seem unnecessary or monotonous sometimes, but we know there is always a reason for what she’s asking us to do.”

The only thing Coker would change about her time working in the barn?

“I wish I’d started it sooner,” she said. “If I had known that this job existed when I first got to Auburn — because I worked my first three years here, too, doing other things — I would have loved it that much longer. And I think I would have gotten a lot farther, a lot quicker.” Fellow intern Eliza White is an equestrian on the Auburn IHSA club team, so she was familiar with the barn from her freshman year. Like Coker, her time in the barn prepared her for another formative internship experience.

White and her fellow interns would administer medications and day-to-day treatments, as well as assist in the surgical department, prepping the horses for anesthesia.

Now, she has her sights on veterinary school, with a specific interest in reproductive sciences.

“I have always been really interested in science and the medical field, and I’m also just a really big animal person,” she explained. “And what I learned about Auburn’s animal science program specifically is that the way they teach is very hands-on here.”

Hands-on, high-impact student experiences are a high priority for the Department of Animal Sciences, according to Undergrad Program Officer Carolyn Huntington.

“Whether it is specifically internships or, more broadly, high-impact experiences, it is about connecting classroom knowledge and research knowledge to practical applications,” Huntington said. “While they’re getting those high-impact experiences, they’re expanding and building their network and becoming more prepared for the career field that they hope to pursue.”

These paid internships at the Equestrian Center are made possible by donor Linda Hardy, wife of the late Professor Emeritus William E. “Bill” Hardy Jr., a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology at Auburn for almost 39 years and associate dean for instruction from 2000 to 2007.

“We wanted to just start a way to get kids more hands-on experience with the horses,” said Braswell. “And the idea of doing so through an internship resonated with one of our supporters, Linda Hardy.”

Braswell is a 2009 graduate from the Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology. Her advisor when she was a student in the department?

Bill Hardy.

“He was always so invested in students and experiences in Auburn and the College of Ag,” Braswell said. “I think it’s been a really cool thing that it’s in his honor, and through his legacy, he is still affecting these students in the college and still helping these students learn and gain experience.

“It really feels very full circle, this opportunity to honor Bill Hardy, to give this experience to students in the Department of Animal Sciences, and to receive their support in athletics. The way it has all evolved is pretty special.”