Strong local leadership will be important to the vitality of rural communities.
Extension can help develop that local leadership.
Casey, interim dean and director of the University of Minnesota Extension Service, can now address this interest from a regional standpoint as well. Casey has recently joined the board of directors of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. I was not able to attend my first meeting and sent somebody in my stead. He came back and reported how fortunate I was to be appointed to the board of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, Casey said. As I ve learned about what the board does, I realize that he is right.