Stacey Swain, brand coordinator for Helena Products Group, recently finished the Thad Cochran Agricultural Leadership Program—a two-year intensive leadership development initiative hosted by Mississippi State University.
Swain, a Mississippi native and graduate of Mississippi State’s communications program, didn’t originally envision a future in agriculture.
“I didn’t have a traditional ag background, but I grew up around it in Mississippi,” she said. “After college, I took a job with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and that’s where my journey in this industry really began.”
Swain’s career started in the Bureau of Plant Industry, the regulatory division overseeing pesticides, seed testing and ag product approvals. That early exposure to ag policy and regulation gave her a strong foundation for her eventual move to the private sector with Helena Agri-Enterprises. Today, in her role with Helena Products Group, she helps shape the branding, messaging and national advertising strategies for Helena’s proprietary product line.
Eager to expand her understanding of the broader ag landscape, Swain enrolled in the Thad Cochran Agricultural Leadership Program in 2022. The program, which includes eight intensive seminars, blends leadership training with real-world agricultural immersion across Mississippi, the U.S. and abroad.
“We traveled across the state, visiting everything from row crop operations in the Delta to seafood and timber industries on the Gulf Coast,” Swain said. “We also spent time in Jackson and Washington, D.C., learning how ag policy is developed at the state and federal levels.”
One of the program’s most eye-opening components was its international study tour. In 2023, Swain and her cohort visited Belgium and the Netherlands to explore European agricultural systems and policies.
“It broadened my understanding of global ag challenges and how interconnected we all are,” she noted.
Beyond technical knowledge, the program emphasized personal and professional development.
“We did a lot of leadership training—personality assessments, communication styles, negotiation and more,” she explained. “It really prepares you to lead teams and be an advocate for agriculture.”
Swain encourages others to consider applying.
“It’s a great opportunity to grow—both as a professional and as a voice for agriculture,” she said.
