Broadening Horizons: Highlights from RLND Seminar 5: Regional Agriculture and Rural Issues
By Seminar 5 Communications Team: Kyle Klapper, Brandon Baity, Christy Jaeger, and Anna Ross
Monday, June 24
Our first stop for Seminar 5 was Sugihara Hall on the NDSU Campus. AJ had the opportunity to share two guests with our cohort: Pat Traynor, the Executive Director of the Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF), and Tara Bujold, the Chief of Executive Operations at DMF. Established in 1962 in Fargo, North Dakota, DMF aims to improve community health and wellness through grants, training, and support. Its focus areas include healthcare access, mental health, and fostering healthy lifestyles. DMF promotes a culture of philanthropy and collaboration among local nonprofits.
During our meeting, Pat and Tara discussed two main sub-parts of DMF: the Impact Foundation and Giving Hearts Day. The Impact Foundation, created by Pat in 2005, provides expertise and resources to nonprofits and social enterprises. It offers training in areas like leadership development, fundraising, and operational efficiency. The Foundation assists in capacity building, helping organizations achieve sustainability and maximize their community impact. Giving Hearts Day, a 24-hour give-a-thon, has raised over $138 million for charitable causes, making it the largest giving day in the region. Pat shared profound insights on the importance of checking what you are filling your mind with and remembering the joy of giving. Pat's remark, "Great leaders help us reach what we are capable of," reminded us to challenge the process.
Next, we visited the Northern Crops Institute (NCI), where we had the pleasure of meeting David Boehm and Dr. Casey Peterson in their new facility. NCI now has over three times the space they previously had, along with three new labs for soy, protein, and fermentation. Upgrades were also made to the pasta lab, bake lab, mill room, and the Feed Production Center. NCI hosts various events, such as a stone milling course, their third annual ancient grains conference, and an in-person food-grade soybean procurement course that hosted 20 participants from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Myanmar, Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, and the United States. David and Casey emphasized the value NCI brings to the local agricultural region by connecting local production with international buyers, expanding the regional marketplace for profitability and sustainability. NCI's emphasis on the importance of collaboration by design reinforces that by intentionally working alongside others, we have more opportunity to spark new ideas.
The evening consisted of a chance to practice our swing at Suite Shots, combining leadership lessons with some fun and friendly competition. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect as a class, unwind, and strengthen our bonds.
Tuesday, June 25
On Tuesday, June 25th, the Rural Leadership North Dakota Group gathered for a productive morning meeting and the first set of sessions at the Dakota Medical Foundation. The day began with insightful discussions led by Jac McTaggart, CEO/Senior Director for Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center and Sanford Mayville Medical Center. Jac provided a detailed account of his experiences and the multifaceted challenges he encountered in various leadership roles within the healthcare sector. His stories offered a profound understanding of regional policy and community development, highlighting the intricate balance required to navigate and lead in such a dynamic field. Jac discussed the significance of inspiring a shared vision and modeling the way, highlighting that extraordinary people do normal things extraordinarily well.
Following Jac's session, the group had the privilege of hearing from Ryan Aasheim, the Chief Business Development Officer of the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Ryan elaborated on the extensive economic development initiatives underway in the region. He detailed the strategic efforts and collaborations facilitated by the EDC to foster growth and innovation, providing a comprehensive overview of the region's burgeoning economic landscape. Ryan mentioned the importance of rural leaders impacting policy to create greater innovation for our region and communities.
The final session of the morning featured Jerry South, Assistant Director of Career Coaching at the NDSU Career and Advising Center. Jerry shared invaluable advice on crafting compelling resumes and effectively searching for career opportunities. His practical tips and strategies were aimed at empowering the group to enhance their professional trajectories and seize new opportunities.
With the morning sessions concluded, the group boarded their bus and headed to Minneapolis. Upon arrival and after settling in, many members of the group ventured out to explore the Mall of America. The evening was spent enjoying dinner and various activities, providing a delightful conclusion to a day rich in learning and exploration.
Wednesday, June 26
On Wednesday morning, June 26th, Class X boarded the bus to CHS headquarters in Inner Grove Heights. Jay Debertin, President and CEO of CHS, welcomed the class and discussed the progress made in modern agriculture and provided insight into the goal of understanding the cooperative model. Jay, being from North Dakota, resonated with the class due to his connection to rural North Dakota. Will Stafford, Director of Federal Affairs and a lobbyist with CHS in Washington DC, met with the class virtually to discuss policy concerns at CHS. Will shared the priorities CHS is working on at the national level and how they will affect rural areas. The class was given an interactive tour of the CHS real-time data-gathering and analytics media center, which included markets and grain being loaded at ports across the globe. The modern facilities at CHS and the hybrid working model of their employees were also toured. Bryce Banfield, VP of Global Grain Marketing and Processing, gave insight and understanding into the global nature of agriculture and how grain from ND is moved to various markets. Bryce, originally from Australia, had completed the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation program, a similar to RLND program, when he was living in Australia. Our time at CHS wrapped up with a lunch and discussion from Megan Wolle, Senior Director of Stewardship at CHS, as she shared how CHS gives back to rural communities and the future of agriculture.
Class X then traveled to the Land O’ Lakes Campus in Arden Hills and began with a very engaging discussion with Tina May, VP Rural Services and Chief of Staff to the CEO. Tina discussed sustainability and the strength that many in rural communities do not realize they have. She shared the work Land O’Lakes has done with improving broadband to communities and how they worked with others to accomplish projects to improve rural living, such as the rural medical school being created in rural Minnesota. Tina’s excitement and get-it-done attitude were inspiring to Class X. Paul Hansen, Leader Development Manager at Land O’Lakes, shared the cooperative model and the class learned that Land O’Lakes is more than just butter. Paul gave us a tour of the campus, and the food labs were especially interesting to Class X. Paul underscored the importance of cooperatives to rural success and stressed the need to keep farmers and rural communities at the heart of creating a better world for all.
Class X’s bus was then boarded by Edna “The Kissing Bandit” Murray as she led us on the Saint Paul Gangster Tour. The tour took us through areas in downtown St. Paul that are rich in architecture, history, and gangster activity from the 1930s prohibition era. The tour ended at the Wabasha Street Caves, where supper was served along with guests from the area to discuss leadership, legacy, and community.
Thursday, June 27
Thursday morning, Class X loaded the bus and headed to the Phillips Neighborhood in South Minneapolis. Their first stop was at Maria’s Cafe for an authentic Colombian breakfast. Maria’s Cafe is located in the Ancient Traders Market building owned by the American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC). There, they enjoyed fabulous Colombian coffee and delicious corn pancakes and were joined by Michael Goze, CEO of AICDC.
During breakfast, Mr. Goze shared some history of the community as well as knowledge around leadership. He continued his stories after breakfast as he took the group on a walking tour of Franklin Avenue, home to one of the largest condensed groups of Native American businesses, non-profits, and organizations in a metropolitan area. Mike shared openly about the challenges faced in the community and the challenges of organizations that serve that community. His approach to community development and organizing included a combination of both for-profit and nonprofit organizations and was a story of resilience, pride, and empowerment.
From there, we continued our visit to the Phillips Neighborhood by visiting the new American Indian Center, which just opened in May. Class X received a tour of the facility from Physical Activity Coordinator, and born and raised North Dakotan, Kobe Gourneau. The Indian Center housed activities and programs for everyone from youth to elders and was designed to meet the physical and cultural needs of the community. After the tour, they headed down the block, where they had an opportunity to check out the 4 Sisters Farmers Market. The community members were very kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere was similar to a small community despite being located in the heart of the Twin Cities.
Next, it was time to eat, so they grabbed lunch from Pow Wow Grounds coffee. After lunch, the group visited an exhibit at All My Relations Gallery featuring a collection of paintings and sculptures by artist Frank Buffalo Hyde titled “AL·TER·NA·TIVE” and heard briefly from the staff of the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) about the work that they do. After this culturally immersive experience, Class X returned to the bus and headed back to Fargo.
The evening concluded with a beautiful and relaxing networking opportunity in the Presidential Suite at the Clubhouse in Fargo with several amazing leaders who serve on the RLND Council in the areas of North Dakota agriculture, business, education, and leadership.
Friday, June 28
We started the day with an insightful Future of Agriculture panel featuring Dr. William Aderholdt, Executive Director of Grand Farm, and Ron Holiday, ND Grower. The discussion emphasized the importance of informed decision-making and growing voices for agriculture. Also, the need to encourage collaboration and build connections to adapt to the future were key themes that emerged.
We had the privilege of hearing from Paul Coppin, Chief Executive Officer at Valley United Co-op, who spoke about the Future of Co-ops. He explained the roles of local cooperatives in supporting communities, growing leaders, establishing trust, and the financial impact on communities. Paul highlighted the need for co-ops to remain adaptive, embrace innovative technologies, constantly look ahead, and maintain the local voice for the future. He encouraged us to remember that past leaders set the stage for current leaders' success, and through forward-thinking, our leadership today will benefit future generations.
Excitingly, Valley United Co-op announced a sponsorship for Class X to have a special class experience during our international trip to Ghana next February. We are grateful for their continued support and are excited to grow with Paul’s challenge to be the future leaders that rural ND needs!
Class X's Brandon Baity shared the work of the Fargo-Moorhead Indigenous Association and emphasized the community resources and development that empower Indigenous communities in the region. We had the opportunity to share their physical space while learning about the focus of their work.
RLND Class X: Milestone Reached Class X has completed Seminar 5 and is now halfway through their leadership journey! We’re excited to continue growing and learning together as we continue to make meaningful impacts in our communities.
As Class X reviewed their personal RLND year one goals and set revised or new goals for year two, we reflected on the journey taken so far. After sharing a review of their personal leadership project statuses, the class enjoyed a great lunch from Tee's Tacos. Class X is continuing to grow and challenge themselves to evolve into even better versions of their already amazing selves. Their dedication and commitment to the program is inspirational.
Rural Leadership North Dakota relies heavily on the generous support of our sponsors, without whom our programs would not be possible. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Seminar 5 sponsors: CHS Foundation, RLND Leader Corp Benefactor; Delegman’s, RLND Leader Corp Member; and CHS, Inc.
