The primary purpose of this study was to identify the major leadership skill areas and specific leadership competencies within each skill area needed by Extension leaders. A purposive sample of administrative heads of agriculture from 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions was selected to participate in qualitative interviews. Seven individuals participated in long interviews (Creswell, 1998; McCracken, 1988) designed to identify leadership skills necessary to be a leader within the CSREES. Participants identified six major leadership skill areas needed by Extension leaders: human, conceptual, technical, communication, emotional intelligence, and industry knowledge skills. A total of 80 specific leadership competencies were developed and clustered under one of the six leadership skill areas.