Brad Schloesser Receives National Award

Published Thursday, January 09, 2025

Photo (l-r): Paul Aarvold, NAAE, Region III Vice President; Brad Schloesser; Maureen Brennan, Goodheart-Willcox Publisher; Eric Tilleman, NAAE, 2023-2024 President

Brad Schloesser was recently recognized for exemplary performance and dedication to agricultural education. He received the 2024 National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Outstanding Service Award which was presented during the 2024 NAAE Convention, December 3-7, in San Antonio, Texas.

Schloesser taught post-secondary agriculture for two decades before moving into leadership positions in southern Minnesota institutions. Since then he has made significant contributions to agricultural education by fostering leadership development among farming and agribusiness professionals. Schloesser has spent three decades supporting and building partnerships with students, faculty, farmers, ag educators, and private industry. His work has been primarily centered around the learning and development of agricultural professions and consumers. He has also been a lifelong advocate for FFA, food and natural resource education, veterans in farming, and rural mental health.

Schloesser has served as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program since December 2022. He is also an alumnus of the program, participating in Class XI from Fall 2020 to June 2022. The MARL program is a dynamic leadership development program for active and engaged adult agricultural and rural leaders in Minnesota.

Every two years, a cohort of up 30 participants is selected through a rigorous application process. Each class has roughly two-thirds of participants involved in production agriculture, and the remaining one-third are business, civic, government, and organization professionals from across rural Minnesota agriculture. The program is a joint effort between Southwest Minnesota State University, the SMSU Foundation, and the University of Minnesota Extension.

Under his leadership, the MARL Program at Southwest Minnesota State University emphasizes the importance of investing in people, equipping participants with essential skills that unlock future opportunities.

In his previous role as the Dean of Agriculture at South Central College in Mankato, Minn., Schloesser was responsible for leading faculty members in their teaching and professional development. In his role, he supported more than 650 Agribusiness and Farm Business Management students each year. In addition, he served as the first director of the Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence. He also spent time as a development team member for GreenSeam, a leader with the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators, and a developer and program manager of the National CASE Ag Science Curriculum.

“In life there are many blessings, and from the days I was in high school, I enjoyed a rich education in agriculture coupled with a fun, fulfilling and passion related experiences with the FFA organization, members, and advisors. That led me to a career where I have been blessed to work with people who also are enthused about farming, food, and our natural resources,” said Schloesser. “I have been fortunate to connect with many people during my career in agriculture education. Being recognized for service to the agriculture industry and agriculture education is a humbling honor. Every connection has been a blessing, and I am truly grateful.”

NAAE Outstanding Service Awards are presented to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to agricultural education at the state, regional, and national levels. NAAE is the professional organization for agricultural educators with over 9,000 members nationwide and headquartered in Lexington, Ky. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher sponsors this award program.

For more information on the MARL program, visit: www.MARLProgram.org