BURKE, SD – The Billie Sutton Leadership Institute’s third year is underway and the 2021 Sutton Leaders and Rural POWER class has been announced.
Fifteen members of the new class met for a training seminar this past weekend in Oacoma to kick off the year-long leadership development program. Nine of those participants were selected for the Sutton Leaders program. Six are participants in the new Rural POWER program launched this year.
After a weekend seminar with the new class, Sutton Leadership Institute Founder Billie Sutton said, “I’m always amazed by the passion and dedication of the South Dakotans who apply for this opportunity to give back to their community. This year’s class is full of South Dakota’s most promising leaders.”
He continued, “The inaugural Rural POWER participants will undoubtedly fuel the growth of small town South Dakota, and the third class of Sutton Leaders are ready to serve their communities across South Dakota!”
Members of the 2021 class of Sutton Leaders include
Callee Ackland, Rapid City, Brianna Doran, Brookings
Denise Hall, Brookings, Heather Hansen, Sioux Falls
Liz Larson, Sioux Falls, Raeann Mettler, Spearfish
Jessica Meyers, Sioux Falls, Jennie Palmer, Pierre
Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, Vermillion
Members of the 2021 Rural POWER class include:
Wayne Ducheneaux, Eagle Butte, Sara Hento, Avon, Joshua Hofer, Freeman, Jordan Jones, Rapid City, Krecia Leddy, Stockholm, Katy VanderPol, Platte
Rural POWER, sponsored by the South Dakota Farmers Union, seeks to grow a new generation of rural leaders and encourage involvement in local rural cooperatives providing essential services to South Dakota communities.
Sutton Leaders is the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute’s original program, now in its third year, focusing on leadership development, community engagement, and public service across South Dakota.
