RRV Emerging Leadership Program Helps Develop Leadership Potential for Rural Couples

Bagley, MN — During this week’s Clearwater County Fair, local alumni will get together to introduce their latest couple into this year’s Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Program. Clearwater County ELP Liaison Stacy Peterson joined the KKCQ Food for Thought Program this week to share more information about the Emerging Leadership Program and its history. Peterson says the program began decades ago as the King Agassiz Program focused on agricultural leaders, but slowly evolved into the Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Program to include all our rural leaders.

The University of Minnesota Extension carries out the ELP Program. According to their website, the program’s goal is to provide opportunities for individuals to develop their leadership potential, as well as a structure to help regional leaders address rural issues.

ELP is based on the philosophy that effective leadership can be learned and that leaders grow into positions of leadership, motivated by a sense of responsibility for themselves and their communities, according to Peterson.

This year’s Clearwater County ELP Representative will be James and Cindy Wishard. Peterson notes that they will be meeting and greeting with the new participants as well as hosting a silent auction during this week’s fair.

Also just announced to represent their counties this year are Eli and Alison Swenson of Shelly for Norman County, Joe and Tabitha Hass of Hawley for Clay County, and Noel and Tana Anderson of Crookston for West Polk County. Many of the other counties are still in the process of selecting their candidates.

The Emerging Leadership Program includes representatives from Northwest and West Central Minnesota.

Listen to the full interview with Clearwater County ELP Liaison Stacy Peterson from the KKCQ Food for Thought Program below: