Thirty Participants Chosen for MARL Class 13

Published Tuesday, September 03, 2024

Minnesota Agriculture & Rural Leadership Program

Thirty individuals have been selected to participate in Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) Class 13. The class members will begin their two-year leadership journey this fall with their first seminar on Sept. 11-13, 2024.

MARL is a rigorous and dynamic two-year educational experience featuring 11 in-state seminars—six in the first year and five in the second year. The program highlights include a national study seminar in Washington, D.C., and an international study seminar to a destination to be determined by the MARL Board of Directors and announced in the summer of 2025.

Class 13 is comprised of unique blend of individuals from agricultural producers and those involved in ag-adjacent, agribusiness, or rural leadership positions.

“The board was incredibly impressed with the caliber of applicants for this class,” said Executive Director Brad Schloesser. “We had forty-three highly qualified applicants, which meant the board had the very difficult task of selecting only 30 of those applicants for MARL Class 13.”

The following individuals have been selected for MARL Class 13:

Emily Alm, Degraff
Jen Athmann, St. Cloud
Rachel Arneson, Halstad
Sharyce Baartman, Ruthton
Loren “Butch” Brey, New Ulm
Chet Bodin, Emily
Emily Dehn, Hector
Braden French, Cottonwood
Joey Goodthunder, Redwood Falls
Cameron Henning, Jackson
Melissa Holtz, Little Falls
Mandy Hunecke, Mankato
Dustin Johnson, Montevideo
Andrew Karau, St. James
Ruth Lanoue, Marshall
Gregg Muehler, Moorhead
Michelle O’Connor, Austin
Alexandra Ostlund, Brooklyn Park
Carson Ouellette, Moorhead
Corey Prins, Lynd
Joel Reiman, Albert Lea
Rachel Reisig, Eagan
Eric Samuelson, Crookston
Katie Saterbak, Murdock
Sue Schatz, Le Center
Andrew Thilges, Owatonna
Okey Ukaga, Woodbury
Ryan Vesey, Mankato
Terra Wierson, Northfield
Shane Wilhelm, Richmond

“We are excited for this class to begin as the participants represent communities and industries across the state,” Schloesser said. “The MARL Program’s goal is to develop the leadership skills of those who are ready to make a difference in agriculture at the local, state, and national levels.”

The MARL seminar cycle is designed to accommodate the busy schedules of participants, which include many agricultural producers. Most activities occur over the winter months. The first seminar meets in the Bemidji/Itasca area on Sept. 11-13, 2024.

MARL is a partnership between the Southwest Minnesota State University Foundation which serves as the administrative host and the University of Minnesota Extension which develops and delivers the curriculum. The program is made possible by many generous investors and sponsors.

To learn more about the MARL Program visit www.MARLProgram.org.