Last year, Edge joined with processors Agropur and Valley Queen to endow a week-long trip to the nation’s capital for the South Dakota Agricultural & Rural Leadership (SDARL) program. SDARL is an 18-month program that features 12 seminars to develop the skills, knowledge and character of leaders. Edge proudly sponsors the group’s trip to D.C. because we believe it is important our rural leaders understand national issues affecting rural development and production agriculture. 

 

Evan Grong, the milk procurement manager at Valley Queen, is part of this year’s SDARL class. Grong testified to the importance of learning about the inner workings of our nation’s capital:

 

“I am honored to be a member of SDARL Class XI and to have the unique opportunity to continue to learn ways that I can best serve Valley Queen dairy producers, the dairy industry in our region, as well as the entire agriculture industry in my role as milk procurement manager at Valley Queen,” Grong said. “The SDARL program offers many unique learning opportunities such as the week-long National Study Seminar in Washington, D.C., connecting agricultural leaders in SDARL with congressional representatives and advocacy groups representing agriculture on current issues at our nation’s capital. The National Study Seminar was an invaluable learning experience that will help me to better serve agriculture in South Dakota.”