Alumni in Action and Week 2 Update

MARL is so fortunate to have active and engaged alumni. This fact was very evident and helpful this week when I gave a leadership and MARL presentation to the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association (MTGA) at their headquarters in Buffalo, MN. The presentation went well because of the help of MARL alumni Steve Olson, MTGA Executive Director, and John Zimmerman, MTGA Board of Directors member, along with MARL Class VI Participant Lara Durben, MTGA Communications and Program Director. MARL alumnus Doug Huebsch is also an MTGA Board member. A big thank you to MTGA for the opportunity to share MARL experiences with them and for their financial support. Check out more on MTGA at www.minnesotaturkey.com.

More alumni action is happening as MARL alumni Jim Checkel, Mary Peichel and Cam Fanfulik, along with MARL Class VI participant Jim O’Connor are working diligently to pull together the best MARL alumni auction ever. When contacted, I hope you will do your part to help with this important and fun MARL fundraiser to be held after the MARL Class VI Graduation on Friday, March 23. Thanks to everyone helping with this event.

Week 2 proved to be another busy week at MARL. In addition to finalizing current class activities, we are working on preparing for Class VII. Nominations have been coming in at a rapid rate thanks to MARL alumni, Class VI participants and others. Class VII nominees will receive an official letter from me in the next two weeks informing them of their nomination and asking them to apply. The application form will be available online soon for Class VII applicants to submit electronically.

KSMQ public television in Austin, MN, welcomed new Chief Executive Officer Eric Olson on Thursday and I met with him on his first day of work. Our conversation focused on cooperative efforts to continue to use the KSMQ “Farm Connections” television program to inform and educate about agriculture. It is my goal for MARL participants to share their wealth of ag experience with the KSMQ audiences when possible. This is great media training for MARL participants and the TV audience is rewarded with interesting stories from people with vast amounts of agricultural expertise. Find out more about “Farm Connections” at http://www.ksmq.org/programs/connections/farm/ and view episodes on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/ksmq.

I attended a very productive meeting with Mike Liepold and Dick Senese of the University of Minnesota (U of M) Extension and Bill Mulso of Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) at the U of M Extension Office in Mankato. Our purpose was to collaborate on how to best use the strengths and resources of the U of M and SMSU to bring the most value to MARL and its participants. This will be an ongoing conversation as it is with all good partnerships.

Finally, don’t forget to get more information on and RSVP for the MARL Leadership Banquet in Windom on January 25 from last week’s blog post. Please RVSP by January 17 if you plan to attend.

Dan