Published: February 28, 2007 05:55 pm            

Nominations sought for Outstanding Agricultural Mentor

Outstanding Agricultural Mentor Award in its fourth year

Nominations are being sought for the 2007 Outstanding Agricultural Mentor Award. The Outstanding Agricultural Mentor Award is in its fourth year and recognizes people in agriculture who have been positive mentors and role models for people in agricultural fields, especially women.

Mentors play an integral role in the development of our agricultural leaders and they often go unheralded.

Minnesota District 11 Agri-Women formally recognizes the excellent work of these mentors during their annual Women's Agricultural Leadership Conference. Please assist us in recognizing these outstanding mentors by nominating a mentor that has made an impact for agriculturalists.

The Outstanding Agricultural Mentor Awards will be presented during the luncheon at the 9th Annual Women's Agricultural Leadership Conference on April 10 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. Lt. Governor Carol Molnau will be on hand to help present the awards to the outstanding agricultural mentors.

Anyone may nominate a mentor to receive this award. You do not have to be in a formal mentoring program to make a nomination. Mentors can be of any age, gender, and need to have influenced somebody in the field of agriculture. Although this award is coordinated by Minnesota District 11 Agri-Women, mentors or their nominators need not be affiliated with the Agri-Women organization, nor is affiliation considered a criteria for evaluation.

Applications are due March 15, and may be found at the conference website or by e-mailing Sarah Tesmer. You may also find out more information about the

Agriculture 2007: Deciphering Our Future, Women's Agricultural Leadership Conference on this site.

Past Mentoring Award winners include: Mary Buschette, alumni relations director, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; Dale Dahl, professor emeritus, University of Minnesota; Yvonne Erickson, producer; Annette and Kay Fernholz, agricultural producers; Becky Meyer, director of the Agricultural and Food Sciences Academy; Doris Mold, agricultural consultant and producer; Sherry Newell-Opitz, producer service coordinator, Midwest Dairy Association; Barb Overlie, producer; Barb Piehl, regional Extension educator; Juanita Reed-Boniface, producer and past state 4-H coordinator; Jim Stordahl, Extension educator Polk County; Julie Tesch, executive director, Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council; Tamia Trulson, lecturer-adviser, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; and Stephanie Wohlhuter, teacher, Agricultural and Food Sciences Academy.

        

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