JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – For the past two years, Searle Swedlund has participated in the Rural Leadership North Dakota class.

Now he’s sharing what he’s taken from the class and encouraging anyone else who’s interested to sign up for the next two-year course.

Swedlund joined 25 others in North Dakota to develop skills that joined the class to shape the future of their respective organization, community, and state.

Swedlund says by putting like minded individuals together in the class, the experiences had through all they’ve done will be hard to replicate.

The class focused on in-state seminars, tours of agricultural and community businesses while also meeting with leaders from different countries. Swedlund says meeting with community leaders and agriculture producers in Chile provided some perspective and didn’t differ too far from North Dakota.

Swedlund says with a few months left in the program, he’s reflecting on everything he’s been able to take away from the North Dakota Extension Service class.

Other area individuals have been a part of the Rural Leadership North Dakota Class. They include Kasey Bitz of LaMoure and Gwen Crawford of Kathryn.

Since the program began in 2003, 144 people from 73 communities in 37 counties have graduated from the program. For more information, you can contact Searle Swedlund at 701-251-9145.
Image courtesy of NDSU Extension Service.

Listen to a full Let’s Talk About It with Searle Swedlund below: