Rural Leadership North Dakota (RLND) was host to the International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leadership (IAPAL) annual meeting at Dickinson, N.D. the week of Oct. 12. IAPAL is a consortium of agricultural and rural leadership programs in the USA, Canada and several other countries. I’m pleased to announced that Marie Hvidsten, Extension RLND program director and rural leadership specialist, was recognized during the meeting with the 2015 Outstanding Leadership Program Director Award. According to Joe Waldrum, Executive Secretary of IAPAL, "Dr. Hvidsten received this honor for her vision, leadership and professional tenacity to establish and develop the Rural Leadership North Dakota program which has empowered the lives of so many established and emerging agricultural leaders in North Dakota. She is highly respected by her peers in rural leadership development around the globe and we are proud to recognize her significant talents and educational impacts with this prestigious award."

And we are proud of you too, Marie.

Colleagues, please join me in a round of applause.

Chris Boerboom, Extension Director