Director Kanwar selected for Leadership Class
MCKENZIE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR KANWAR
SELECTED FOR LEADERSHIP CLASS
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: Marie Hvidsten, 701-231-5640,
marie.hvidsten@ndsu.edu
Editor: Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391,
ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu
Rural Leadership North
Dakota Selects 8th Class
Rural Leadership North
Dakota’s eighth class includes farmers, a rancher, farm assistance program
representatives, business owners, city and county officials, health care and bank
personnel, a consultant and communications specialists.
They are among 26
people selected for the North Dakota State University Extension Service’s
leadership development program that starts in November. They will spend 18
months developing skills to help them shape the future of their organization,
community and state.
The 2017-19 program
consists of in-state seminars with experts on topics such as leadership,
economic development and agriculture; tours of agricultural and community
businesses; out-of-state trips (Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis in 2018) to
meet with agricultural, business and governmental leaders; and a trip abroad to
learn about international agricultural and community issues. Previous classes
visited Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, Vietnam and Thailand.
Participants will learn
leadership skills, such as thinking critically and creatively, communicating
effectively, self-awareness, decision making, strategic planning and managing
conflict. They also will learn about agricultural and rural policy, marketing,
civic engagement, the value of coalitions and partnerships, industry and
community advocacy, the agricultural economy and future trends that could
affect North Dakota agriculture, finding innovative ways to fund local and
regional development projects, and how to work with the state Legislature.
In addition, they’ll
create a network of contacts and resources they can tap into for ideas, answers
and support. They also will practice the skills they learn by creating a
project that benefits their operation, business, organization, community or
region.
For example, class VII
(2015-17) members helped grow and harvest produce for local food banks, raise
money for playground equipment and to pay off a community center’s debt, start
a farmers market, promote agricultural sustainability, chronicle a county’s
history through photographs, turn empty city lots into usable community space,
and launch youth leadership programs.
“RLND has helped
develop my communication and leadership skills,” says class VII member Daniel
Janes of Horace. “More importantly, the RLND experience helped me reach far
beyond my comfort zone and provided an amazing opportunity to experience North
Dakota and the world while making friends with truly amazing people.”
Those selected for the
2017-19 class are: Chris Adams, Grand Forks; Paula Anderson, Regent; Jon
Bertsch, Hillsboro; Kasey Bitz, LaMoure; Tyler Bowen, Bismarck; Ruth Buffalo,
Fargo; Gwen Crawford, Kathryn; Matt Dahlke, Lincoln; Wade Elder, Watford City;
Whitney Gonitzke, Kramer; Stephanie Goeller Johnson, Luverne; Suhail Kanwar,
Watford City; Brooke Kessel, Hettinger; Kristen Knudtson, Fargo; Mandy Kvale,
Thunder Hawk; Shanda Morgan, Bismarck; Doug Naze, Surrey; Annika Plummer, Dickinson;
Trudy Ruland, New Town; Chris Smaaladen, West Fargo; Bjorn Solberg, Horace;
Brenda Stallman, Hillsboro; Searle Swedlund, Valley City; Tammy Jo Taft,
Arthur; Marsha Van Laere, Northwood; and Heather VanGelder, Sidney.
“Starting a new RLND class is an exciting time for
the 26 class VIII participants,” says Marie Hvidsten, RLND program director. “They
will meet other North Dakotans who want to have an impact in their industry,
organization and community. Class VIII participants are beginning an experience
that will take them across North Dakota, the U.S. and the world.”
Since RLND began in
November 2003, 144 people from 73 communities in 37 counties have graduated
from the program.
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