It Is Time

It is time to nominate qualified candidates for MARL Class VIII. Do you know someone in your business, organization or community that has demonstrated leadership and appears ready to learn, grow and move to the next level? Click on the Fact Sheet link below to learn more about MARL and Class VIII. Then move on to the Class VIII Brochure and Nomination Form, print it out, fill in the nomination information and mail it to Southwest Minnesota State University. You may also place the information requested on the nomination form and email it to SMSU.MARL@smsu.edu.


Click on these links for more information:
Class VIII Fact Sheet

Class VIII Brochure and Nomination Form
Class VIII Application Form


Please direct interested MARL Class VIII Candidates to the MARL web site at www.MARLprogram.org. Once there click on "Participate in the Next Class." Applications for MARL Class VIII are due on or before March 14, 2014.

MARL Class VII and Alumni Make It Happen

Donna Boonstra and Glenn Groth welcome guests and share
their MARL Class VII experience at the MARL Leadership
Banquet-Rochester.

Kudos to MARL Class VII and the MARL Alumni for coming together to make the MARL Leadership Seminar and Banquet-Rochester a great experience. Often class participants mention that interacting with MARL Alumni really enhances the MARL experience for them. The MARL Alumni came through nicely at the Rochester Seminar. Alumni Steve and Linda Fruechte donated bison rib-eye steaks produced on their farm for the banquet meal. MARL Board Chair Jim Checkel paid for Class VII's and guest's meals at the Hubbell House.

Alumni Ron Pagel and Colleen Moe were emcees at the banquet where ninety six people attended including the Mayor of Rochester and the President of Riverland Community College. Alumni Ralph and Mena Kaehler helped arrange tours/speakers for the class and served as bus tour guides. Alumnus Shelly DePestel gave a tour of her family's dairy operation.

MARL Class VII also pitched in to make good things happen. Janet Kubat-Willette helped set up a tour of the Rochester Post Bulletin/Agri News printing presses and production department. Donna Boonstra and Glenn Groth welcomed banquet guests and shared class experiences with them. Dianne Bettin and Chelsea Russell worked with their classmates, Alumni Rick Smith and others to have a fundraising auction. This fun, after banquet tradition started by Class VI raised $2,500 for MARL. Class VII will use $1,500 of the proceeds to purchase treasures in Ecuador for their post-graduation auction on March 28 in Chaska. Class VII generously donated $1,000 of the total to the Curt Watson - MARL Endowment. Class VII's contribution added to the proceeds generated by the work of Jim O'Connor, Rick Smith, Jim Checkel and board member Ruth Meirick during the banquet to bring the endowment total to nearly $21,000.

For sure the MARL Alumni in the Windom area are gearing up to be involved in the MARL Leadership Banquet-Windom scheduled for January 23, 2014. You are invited, so mark your calendar now.

Click here to: Contribute to End of Year MARL Appeal. December 31, 2013 is the deadline for 2013 tax deductions.


Class VII Participant Joan Lee (far right) enjoyed learning about
her international study destination, Ecuador, from Mayo Clinic
Dr. Andres Acosta-Cardenasand his wife Soledad.

Generosity Abounds at MARL

Renville County Farm Bureau delivered on their challenge to match the next $5,000 donated to the Curt Watson - MARL Endowment. This generous gift now brings the endowment balance to almost $20,000. Endowments help ensure that MARL will be able to accomplish it's mission long into the future. Only the interest on the endowment can be spent for MARL's annual operating expenses. Curt Watson's son Eric and daughter in-law Danielle have proposed a goal of $100,000 for this endowment. Thank you everyone for your generosity.

 Click here to be take to the secure MARL online contribution site. 

Remember to leave a note in the comment section as to whether your donation is for the endowment or for the MARL end of year funding appeal. The deadline for a 2013 tax deduction is 12/31/13. 

Renville County Farm Bureau President Joe Sullivan, Danielle Watson
and Eric Watson present the challenge matching $5,000 check to MARL
Board Chair Jim Checkel, Executive Direcotor Dan Hoffman
and Program Leader Mike Liepold.


 

 

Mike Liepold Receives Award-You Are Invited To Rochester

 

MARL Program Leader Mike Liepold (left) receiving the 2013 MFBF Outstanding
Extension Educator Award from MFBF President Kevin Paap . (Photo courtesy of the MFBF.)

Congratulations to MARL Program Leader Mike Liepold for receiving the 2013 Outstanding Extension Educator Award at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Annual Meeting. The photo above shows Mike  receiving the award from MN Farm Bureau Federation President Kevin Paap in Minneapolis on November 22. Mike has been the MARL Program Leader for the past 13 years.

MARL Alumnus, MARL Board Member and SE MN Area Program Director for the
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Ruth Meirick is picture above writing a message
to the family of Curt Watson while being the first donor to answer the Renville County
Farm Bureau Federation's dollar match challenge at the MFBF 2013 Annual Meeting,
 

You Are Invited To The MARL Leadership Banquet-Rochester On December 11

The next MARL Leadership Banquet-Rochester is quickly approaching and will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center in Rochester, MN. The social begins at 6:00 PM with the banquet meal following at 7:00 PM. MARL Alumni Ron Pagel and Colleen Moe will emcee the program following the banquet meal. MARL Alumnus and former Winona County Commissioner Mena Kaehler will introduce the key note speaker Winona County Planning and Environmental Services Director Jason Gilman. Mr. Gilman plans to share his experiences relating to leadership, issues and policy development regarding silica sand mining.

MARL Alumnus Steve Fruechte and his wife Linda have informed MARL Board Chair Jim Checkel they will be donating the buffalo rib-eye steaks for the banquet meal.

It is time for a meal count. Your RSVP is requested by noon on Tuesday, December 3. Please click on this link to RSVP and pay for your meal:
https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1158/interior.aspx?sid=1158&gid=1&pgid=537&cid=1207

Challenge For You

MARL Alum and Renville County Farm Bureau Federation President Joe Sullivan called me with a challenge. The challenge Joe offered will help give tribute to Curt Watson, his family and help fund the Curt Watson - MARL Endowment.

According to Joe, the Renville County Farm Bureau Federation will match dollar for dollar your contribution to the Curt Watson - MARL Endowment up to the first $5,000.00. Just stop by the booth at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting this Friday or Saturday to contribute and leverage your investment in ag and rural leadership development. A large message board will be on display for you to write a message to the Watson family.

Curt Watson

If you would rather contribute electronically or can not stop by the booth, please go to www.MARLprogram.org and click on Curt Watson - MARL Endowment.

You Are Invited

MARL Class VII will be in Moorhead to kick off the second year of their MARL leadership journey and you are invited for the evening of Wednesday, November 13.

The MARL Leadership Banquet-Moorhead will be a great opportunity to connect with Class VII, enjoy a delicious meal, see old friends and meet new friends. You will also learn about entrepreneurship, business, family and leadership from Peterson Farms Seed Company President Carl Peterson.

Click here: https://www.petersonfarmsseed.com/company/our-history/ to learn more about our speaker and his company. MARL's sister organization in North Dakota, Rural Leadership North Dakota (RLND) has also been invited.

The social and banquet details are listed below. Please send an RSVP email to Dan.Hoffman@SMSU.edu  if you would like to attend. You may pay at the door if you RSVP by noon on Monday, November 11.  Plan to attend this opportunity to learn, grow and be supportive of MARL Class VII.

What: MARL Leadership Banquet-Moorhead

When: 6:00 PM Social
            7:00 PM Dinner
            Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Where: Marriott Courtyard
            1080 28th Avenue South
            Moorhead, MN 56560
            (218) 284-5024

Meal Cost: $25.00 at the door with email RSVP by noon on Monday, November 11
                                                     


Carl Peterson, President CCA-Peterson Farms Seed

Carl Peterson is proud to say, "I have lived in the same house my entire life and I've never had a job." Which means, Carl grew up and still lives on the home place his grandfather purchased in 1918. And that, as an entrepreneur and small business owner, he has never had to go through an employment interview. Carl thrives on identifying and solving problems. His professional credentials include a BS in Ag Production from Iowa State; MS in Ag Econ from Purdue; MBA from Indiana University; and is CCA accredited. Carl reads voraciously and most weekends he can be found playing piano and singing on his church worship team. And as a master of trivia, he always seems to have a quirky come-back. For more information please click here: https://www.petersonfarmsseed.com/company/our-history/

Thank You and Important Dates

Thank you to the MARL Alumni who have answered the MARL Pre-Harvest Funding Appeal that was mailed in September. This is an important time for MARL to receive funding. The the needs are great as MARL Class VII prepares for the November MARL Seminar in Moorhead, the December MARL Seminar in Rochester and Class VII looks forward to their international study tour in Ecuador. It is at this time that bills come in to support these activities. There is still time for you to respond to the funding appeal. Thank you to those who have already stepped forward to help Class VII move successfully towards graduation.

A special thank you goes out to MARL Class VII Participant Chelsea Russell who helped secure a $2,000 contribution from the Midwest Forage Association for MARL. Many organizations continue to fund MARL on an annual basis. Thank you for your generosity and willingness to help us develop ag and rural leaders in Minnesota.

Important Dates for your calendar:

November 4         MARL Board of Directors Meeting
November 12-14  MARL Seminar-Moorhead "Community Big and Small"
November 13       MARL Leadership Banquet-Moorhead, Speaker Carl Peterson,
                             Owner Peterson Farms Seed-Entrepreneurship and Life Lessons
December 11-13  MARL Seminar-Rochester "Rural Minnesota's Future"
December 11       MARL Leadership Banquet-Rochester, Speaker Jason  Gilman,
                             Winona County Planning and Environmental Services Director-The
                             Impact of Frac Sand Mining
January 1- March 14, 2014   MARL Class VII applications accepted
March 28, 2014    MARL Class VII Graduation


Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the leadership banquets whenever you can. It is an important part of the MARL experience for the current class and you will enjoy being involved also.