Ed and Alisyn Keil of Perham were recognized for their commitment to leadership and the community during an Emerging Leadership Program banquet on March 23 at the University of Minnesota in Crookston.
The Keils were honored along with individuals from 12 other counties in northwestern and west central Minnesota.
The recognition banquet was the finale of the 2013 leadership program.
Participants in the program attended four training sessions developed to strengthen civic leadership in the region. Participants learned more about their own individual strengths, got to know leaders from other counties, and took a trip to the Capitol in St. Paul, where they visited with local legislators, attended committee meetings and listened to speakers to better understand how the legislative process works.
The banquet carried on the tradition, started by the Red River Valley Winter Shows in 1961, of recognizing rural leaders for contributions to their communities, and provided an opportunity for alumni of the program to gather and encourage each other.
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The banquet was emceed by Agassiz Ambassadors Matt and Carla Blashack of Bertha, Minn. and featured leadership stories by class participants from around the state. The new Agassiz Ambassadors for 2013 were also announced.
The Emerging Leadership Program, a program of the University of Minnesota Extension and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, exists to create and sustain a network of community leaders in the northwest and west central regions of Minnesota focusing on agricultural and natural resource issues.
The Emerging Leadership Program is coordinated by extension educators, in partnership with nearly 1,000 alumni throughout the region. Soon those alumni will be coming together to select new participants for the program. Anyone interesting in participating, or in nominating someone to participate, should contact the Keils or the University of Minnesota Extension, at 888-241-4546.
