Rural Leadership North Dakota is looking for participants for its seventh class, which begins in November.
Rural Leadership North Dakota is an 18-month leadership development program that prepares future North Dakota leaders. The program includes in-state seminars with experts; tours of agricultural and community businesses; out-of-state trips to Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis to meet with agricultural, business and government officials; and a trip to another country to learn about international agricultural and community issues. Previous classes have visited Brazil, Costa Rica and Panama.
The program helps participants enhance their leadership skills, such as thinking critically and creatively, communicating effectively, self-awareness, decision-making, strategic planning and managing conflict. They also learn about agricultural and rural policy, the agricultural economy and future trends that could affect North Dakota, finding innovative ways to fund local and regional development projects, marketing, civic engagement, the value of coalitions and partnerships, industry and community advocacy, and how to work with the state legislature.
In addition, participants create a network of contacts and resources.
"Rural Leadership North Dakota is the premier statewide leadership program in North Dakota," said Marie Hvidsten, Rural Leadership North Dakota program director. "If you are seeking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn more about yourself, the state, country and world to help move North Dakota forward, then we want you in Class VII."
A total of 111 people from 65 communities in 36 counties have participated in Rural Leadership North Dakota since it began in 2003.
The tuition for the Rural Leadership North Dakota program is $3,750, which covers all meals, hotels and travel expenses such as buses during in-state seminars and airfare to out-of- state seminars. Participants are responsible for their travel costs to in-state seminars and points of departure for out-of-state seminars.
The deadline to apply to join the class of 2015-17 is June 15. Applicants must have been a state resident for at least one year and be able to attend all of the seminars.
For more information or to register or nominate someone for the class, visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/rlnd, send an email to ndsu.ruralleadership@ndsu.edu or call 701-231-5803.
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