Developing a new class of community leaders
Graduation for the Connecting Nicollet County Class of 2024-2025 took place in 2025 at the Arboretum at Gustavus College in St. Peter. Extension and Nicollet County partnered to launch the leadership program in 2010 to strengthen leadership across the county by connecting people, increasing awareness of local resources and fostering community engagement.
Each year, up to 25 participants are selected to attend nine monthly sessions held September through May in different Nicollet County communities. Five sessions are shared with neighboring counties — Brown and Sibley — and include leadership training, group activities and team-building exercises led by Extension educators. Four days feature local site tours and presentations from city council members, mayors and business professionals.
Educational topics include leadership styles, navigating conflict, local economic insight and rural community development. Past site tours have included local businesses, farms, schools and historic sites, offering participants a well-rounded view of the county’s assets and opportunities.
Highlights
- RSDP impact: With support from a CERTs Seed Grant, the Friends Building will receive an LED lighting upgrade. The building hosts the St. Peter Food Shelf, Children’s Weekend Food Program, St. Peter Community Free Clinic and Mankato Rehabilitation Center.
- The first-ever Minnesota Farm to School Roadshow brought together producers, school nutrition professionals and early care providers to make new connections and learn how to build successful relationships. Attendees contributed ideas and input for the MN Farm to Kids strategic plan.
- Michele Vogel received the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award as part of the 4-H Salute to Excellence for creating a thriving Nicollet County Cloverbud Club that grows passionate 4-H members. Her leadership equips new volunteers with the tools and enthusiasm to expand the program.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: The Waibel family
- Extension provides financial capability education for participants in the judicial district’s treatment courts, including adult and juvenile drug courts, and courts for mental health, veterans, family dependency and DWI/DUI.
- The Climate Adaptation Partnership is helping characterize future flood and drought extremes in the Swan Lake watershed, equipping natural resource managers, farmers and communities with education and resources to inform resilience strategies.
Nicollet County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Nicollet County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.