Scholarship winner applies lessons to family farm.

• Author: Carpenter, Courtney
• Position: Attitude at altitude - Kent Kalcevic - Brief Article

Kent Kalcevic knew when he was invited to apply for a scholarship to attend Texas A & M University's Executive Program for Agricultural Producers that what he learned there could change the way he runs the farm in Bennett that has been in his family for more than 100 years. As a businessman who is constantly faced with the challenge of staying competitive in an ever-changing global agricultural market, he welcomed the opportunity.

In fact, the training program seemed an ideal way for him to brush up his farm management skills. He applied for the Chevron Texaco Global Lubricants Knowledge Grows Scholarship, and then became one of seven scholarship winners selected for the program in January. Covering issues ranging from strategic, financial and personnel management to marketing, negotiation, information systems and globalization, the Texas A & M program teaches producers to think like CEOs and run their farms like a business.

"Since ours is a...