Rural Leadership North Dakota (RLND) has graduated its first class.  Twenty-four members of the Class of 2003-2005 attended a ceremony in their honor at the Mandan Seven Seas Hotel.  The event included participants, honored guests and members of the Class of 2005-2007. 

The Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening was Sharon Anderson, past Director of NDSU Extension.  Sharon Anderson was instrumental in the formation of the Rural Leadership North Dakota program through the North Dakota State University Extension Service. 

Guests included NDSU President Joseph Chapman, Vice President of Agriculture and University Extension D.C. Coston and NDSU Extension Director Duane Hauck.  President Chapman and Director Hauck presented graduates with a commemorative framed photo of the group which included the Class Mission and RLND Mission Statement.

The keynote address was delivered by Ron Hayes, a graduate of the first class of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program (OALP).  OALP is presently offering Class XII.  Ron Hayes is currently farm director for Oklahoma Agrinet Network in Oklahoma City, OK.  Ron spoke of the impact the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program has had on the state of Oklahoma.  Numerous OALP alumni are in positions of leadership throughout the state moving their communities and state forward.

The Class of 2005 - 2007 had the opportunity to get acquainted with the members of the first RLND class and to hear firsthand the impact RLND has had on their lives.  "I believe all of us who have been part of or experienced RLND had life-altering experiences," says John Zetocha of Oakes, ND. 

Although the two-year long interactive study and travel program has ended for the Class of 2003-2005, it is to be hoped that the lessons learned will continue on for the remainder of their lives and that North Dakota will be the beneficiary of the talent, time and dedication these men and women have to offer.

RLND Orientation- Class of 2007 
                              October 14-15, 2005
                              Bismarck, ND

By popular demand the RLND program was extended by one seminar to include an orientation session for the new class of 2006-07.  The orientation included interactive sessions including the use of appreciative inquiry for class participants to get to know one another and a workshop by Mel Nelson, Executive Managements Systems on "Community Development, You and the Human Element."  A highlight of the program was the presentation by Ron P. Hays the director of Farm Programming for Clear Channel Ag Radio Networks and graduate of the Okalahoma Ag Leadership Program.  Dr. D.C. Coston, Vice President for Agriculture and University Extension at NDSU also paid a visit and welcomed the participants to the new RLND class.  Cindy Selstedt provided a Blackboard demonstration plus the class reviewed the course outline, resource materials, seminar assignments, and participant and program expectations.