Grant Leadership Program holds February Session; Tours Ethanol Plant

The Grant Leadership Program held its fifth meeting last Wednesday. The group started at Perkins County Hospital with John Long talking to the group about his experience in civic life and growing up in Grant. After this the class looked at factors that bring about moral authority in leadership.

After the morning session, the group traveled to Perkins County Public Schools where Phillip Picquet, superintendent, spoke to the group. He reviewed school finances and discussed leading a school through trust and relationships.

The group returned to the hospital where Mary Pierce, Ogallala Campus Coordinator, with Mid-Plains Community College spoke to the group. She talked about credit, non-credit, and community classes offered through the college.

The group then traveled to Madrid to Country Kitchen for lunch. At lunch, Bonnie Kruse, Director of Development with Mid-Plains talked to the group about different fund raising and grant options to fund community improvement projects.

After lunch, the group traveled to Mid America Agri Product Ethanol Plant. The class learned about the size and scope of the ethanol plant and the benefits it provides to the area ag economy.

The group finished the day talking about the community improvement project. The group conducted a survey and looked at the top improvements wanted from the community at the baseball fields. Improved bathrooms was the top item on the list from the survey. The group looked at strategies to make improvements.

The Grant Leadership Program started in September and has included 19 individuals from the region. Each class contains leadership lessons, change to connect with other members in the class, a community improvement project, and speakers and trips to learn about important businesses and organizations. The group is led by Andy Long of the non-profit organization, Cultivate Rural Leaders.