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Daisy chats up Gottried Saunders, director or mentoring at the Montana Leaders Professional Learning Program about the importance of and challenges in providing professional development to school leaders in the rural context. The program provides training to new and seasoned principals in Montana through the use of tailored mentoring, customized professional development, regional managers and an invaluable online resource center on issue ranging from turnover to dealing with the media. The program, which is affiliated with Montana State University at Bozeman, also recruits graduates to participate in the development efforts. And, yes, funding is an issue for this programs, but you’ll learn the keys to success in this vial area.

  Description: Daisy starts the podcast with a big announcement. Totally Rural Webinar #1 will take place July 26, and if you listen to this podcast, you’ll absolutely will want to attend this groundbreaking event. It’s easy to register—just visit Daisy’s website: www.daisydyerduerr.com Daisy also chats up two community food specialists from the Center for Rural Affairs, April and Susan, who discuss their work with the Native American community. You’ll hear insightful discussions on demonstration gardens, health eating, fried green tomatoes, collaboration with colleges, and food preservation.

Daisy chats up the Pink Eagles, an all-girl robotics team from rural, northern Michigan, who won the older division of the Dash-and-Dot Wonder League robotics competition sponsored by Wonder Workshop.  After hearing this inspiring episode, you’ll never again think that STEM is only for males. This is girl power at its best, and these girls are just getting started, as they head toward a major North American Lego competition. Hear how the girls are already thinking of futures in technology. And listen to their coach, Frank Tappen, and Vikas Gupta, CEO and co-founder of Wonder Workshop, discuss the importance of this competition for students in rural America—and around the world.

Daisy chats up the winners of the American Farm Bureau’s Rural Entrepreneurship Contest, Dan Perpich and Cameron Willingham of Vertical Harvest Hydroponics. Their company has developed a self-contained, plug-and-go, farm-in-a-box agricultural and horticultural process in Alaska, which is already paying dividends for rural communities. Hydroponics is an alternative approach to typically soil-based farming, with an enormous potential to transform agriculture in both rural and other settings. If you play in agriculture space, this is a must-listen-to podcast.

Daisy discusses a thorny, timely, and tumultuous issue with two representatives from the Center for Rural Affairs: Immigration and inclusion. Open and honest communication is vital to any dialogue in this area, according to Carlos Barcenas and Jordan Feverherm. Also playing a huge role: Developing and empowering leaders to make sure voices are clearly heard in rural communities. But practical measures can also be taken, including translating items into Spanish in rural Nebraska communities, such as Grand Island. As the national debate on immigration and inclusion continues, take a listen to this episode.

Daisy chats up Jennifer,  a high school principal in rural Georgia, about how to strengthen confidence in students; securing financial aid; an innovative charter school program that provides options for students;  teaching students to truly persevere; a Monday morning blog;  inviting inspirational community speakers to your school; and why it’s not who you know but who know you.

Daisy chats us Sean Tillery, the owner of the Nebraska Skydiving School, about how he started an incredibly successful skydiving business in a rural Nebraska town, the epiphany Sean experienced that changed his life, the support he receives from the rural community he calls home, and, oh yeah, how he dealt with the challenges and opportunities of faced and took advantage of to be partners with the local airport and gain the trust and support of the residents of this Totally Rural community.

Daisy chats up AFB’s Lisa Benson and AFBFA’s Angela Mayfield about exciting Farm Bureau projects, including a $145,000 Entrepreneurial Challenge (thin Shark Tank for Totally Rural Nation); vegetable hydroponic systems; ag literacy and ag in the classroom; and the Purple Plow Challenge, which enables your middle schooler to—wait for it—make a prototype for a food production project.

Daisy discusses the uber-important 2018 Farm Bill (it's really a Rural Bill), crop insurance (ignore at your own peril), the political climate for conservation, farm to school issues, high-value dairies, and much more, with representatives from the Center for Rural Affairs.

Daisy discusses how to advocate for and advance game-changing education issues with national and state officials of the National Rural Education Association