ST. CLOUD, MN — Two days of dreaming and planning and not one person mentioned the weather or the price of corn. Instead, this board of directors focuses on sustaining and building the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program (MARL). It is one of several national programs focused on leadership development for agriculture and rural areas.

I was the planning consultant to MARL over two hot days in July. The crop we discussed was the leaders. And the weathering of the usual elements that it takes to sustain a top notch program like this.

Who participates in this type of program?

MARL Program Photo

Tim Alcorn, Executive Director shared a snapshot of the participants from the six classes since 2000 when MARL began. The youngest participants are in their mid-twenties and the oldest are in their late 50’s. The average age is between 38 and 42. Both men and women join.

Every two years a class of approximately 30 participants are selected following an open application and interview process. The goal is to have 2/3 of the participants be involved in production agriculture. The other 1/3 of the participants are business, civic, government, and organizations leaders in agriculture and rural Minnesota (MARL web-site).

What do they do? These leaders participate in a series of nine in-state seminars, a national study tour, and an international study tour.

• Study in Minnesota. The in-state seminars are three days in length and are held in nine different locations across the state of Minnesota.

• Explore national issues and resources. The national study tour is up to a week long and is held in Washington, DC.

• Experience an international culture and economy. The international study tour is up to two weeks long and is held in a different country or more than one country abroad (MARL web-site).

What difference does it make?

“The program has been the single most significant value of my time in many years. It has helped me to grow personally, which in turn produces years of payback to my community, my state, and my nation” said one participant who was quoted in an evaluation brief.

Mike Liepold, Program Leader, presented findings on what changes participants report. The 2010 graduating class saw the most change in these factors:

• I seek to understand the potential and limitations of others

• I know my own strengths and weaknesses

• I can identify my organizations structure and dynamics

• I appreciate and celebrate human diversity

• I know how to set up a fair process for decision making

• I can identify negative aspects of power

• I am adept at dealing with conflict in group situations

It is too late for me to sign up for the current class. Darn, I could really use those skills in my board meetings in my ‘somewhat’ rural town.

Please comment: Would you participate in an agriculture and rural leadership program? Why or why not?

Leadership development expert & educator, Donna Rae Scheffert knows how public action by others for others improves lives. Sign up for a RSS feed and read more from Donna Rae at Online-Leadership-Tools or follow Donna Rae on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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