Submitted by Brad Schloesser, MARL Executive Director, Marshall
Since its beginning in 2000 at Southwest State University in Marshall, the Minnesota Agricultural & Rural Leadership (MARL) program has embraced a simple but powerful idea: strong rural communities and sound agriculture grow from strong leaders.
Today, nearly 400 Minnesotans have participated in a MARL leadership journey. The 14th class is now embarking on an 18-month experience designed to develop the skills, confidence, relationships, and understanding needed to maximize their impact and effectiveness in local, state, national, and international arenas.
That journey requires investment. For more than two decades, every MARL cohort has benefited from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s investment in people.
At the heart of both SWIF and MARL is a shared belief that thriving communities begin with investing in people. MARL equips agricultural and rural leaders with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and connections to make a greater difference in their communities, agriculture, and rural Minnesota. SWIF recognizes that the people who live, farm, and work in Southwest Minnesota are our region’s greatest assets—and that communities are strongest when people have opportunities to lead, contribute, connect, and belong.
Our organizations approach this work from different perspectives, but our missions are deeply aligned. Both understand that some of the most lasting investments we can make are investments in people—their growth, leadership, relationships, and ability to help their communities thrive.
SWIF’s support of MARL is more than an investment in a leadership program. It is an investment in a network of people who will return to their farms, businesses, organizations, communities, and the state prepared to lead, serve, and create positive change.
Together, MARL and SWIF are helping develop the leaders Minnesota needs to build resilient, vibrant, welcoming rural communities, ag businesses and farms where people can dream big, contribute their talents, and thrive.
MARL cohort members build hope thru investments:
The leadership projects summarized here highlight and tell stories of the contributions the most recent MARL class has made and continues to make in supporting agriculture, building communities, and enhancing lives in Southwest Minnesota.
- Emily Alm (Worthington), Innovation Experience Project Manager, WinField United, and Co-owner, Alm Family Farm: Emily led community improvement efforts that strengthened faith formation, accessibility, and engagement in her rural hometown, including church upgrades, youth education programs, and park revitalization planning. Her project has increased participation across generations, improved community spaces, and laid the groundwork for long-term recreation and tourism investments that support rural vitality.
- Braden French (Cottonwood), Owner & Operator, French Farms/French Feedlots: Braden launched an effort to create the Cottonwood Lake Watershed Board, bringing together farmers, residents, conservation experts, and local leaders to address water quality challenges through collaboration and shared decision-making. His project is building community engagement around watershed stewardship while laying the foundation for long-term nutrient reduction, environmental conservation, and recreational improvements.
- Joey Goodthunder (Morton), Farm Manager, Lower Sioux Indian Community: Joey led an effort to return buffalo to the Lower Sioux Indian Community, advancing food sovereignty while honoring an animal that holds deep cultural significance. His project secured funding, partnerships, and bison donations to reconnect land, food, culture, and education for future generations while creating new opportunities for community learning and stewardship.
- Ruth Lanoue (Marshall), Owner & Operations, Verly Lanoue Cattle: Ruth founded Fenceline.life, a virtual peer support community that creates safe, accessible spaces for people in agriculture to connect, share experiences, and reduce isolation. Her project has expanded awareness of mental health in rural communities while providing practical support, hope, and meaningful relationships for agricultural producers and their families.
- Corey Prins (Marshall), Owner and President, Northwestern Farm Management Company: Corey created a mentoring program designed to help young men build confidence, develop leadership skills, and make positive career and life choices through meaningful relationships and accountability. His project has strengthened individual growth and community connections by providing both one-on-one mentoring and group support, equipping participants with tools, encouragement, and networks that help them thrive.
- Katie Saterbak (Murdock), Sr. Scientist, Jennie-O Turkey Store: Katie guided the Mini Sota Agricultural Children’s Museum through its transition from startup to sustainable nonprofit, strengthening governance, strategic planning, and organizational development. Her leadership helped the museum open its doors, welcome thousands of visitors and students, expand community visibility, and build long-term capacity through new board leadership and philanthropic support, including a grant from our local partner the Benson Area Community Foundation.
Share Your Story
As Southwest Initiative Foundation marks 40 years, we’re celebrating the people who make this region home and the partners who make our work possible. We’d love to include your story.