Bryan and Stephanie Ramsrud named 2015 Emerging Leaders

Bryan and Stephanie Ramsrud were named as the 2015 Emerging Leaders for Clearwater County. They live nine miles south of Bagley on their farm.
In 1985 a small group of individuals in the Red River Valley of Minnesota gathered to discuss ways in which they might empower people in the region to move beyond the current agriculture crisis/recession and build a stronger agricultural community. Those individuals created the Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Program (ELP) to add value and compliment an existing recognition program for rural agricultural leaders in several counties in northwest Minnesota. That program has continued each year since then to provide a series of leadership sessions focused on agriculture, natural resources and rural issues for young leaders (ages 30-45) in the region.
Participants from 19 counties in northwest and west central Minnesota are now reached by the program which strives to empower people to make a difference - in agriculture, in education, in communities. Participants say,
“...it is a great vehicle for building networks with other leaders in the region and an educating tool to recharge people on leadership, the importance of community, and giving back to the community in a time when strong leadership is needed in rural areas more than ever.”
The Ramsruds, Bryan and Stephanie, both grew up on the farm. Bryan is the son of Stanley and Judy Ramsrud of rural Bagley. Stephanie is the daughter of Fred and Liz Stinar of rural Bagley. They both graduated from Bagley High School and Stephanie from Bemidji State University with a degree in
Elementary Education.
Stephanie married her high school sweetheart in 1992 and they are raising four children: Stanley, Ellen, Paul and Lydia.
Bryan is a painting and drywall contractor who does finishing and texturing of drywall, plus interior and exterior painting. Steph is a substitute school teacher and homemaker. They own and operate about 350 acres raising hay with 40 beef cows.
Both are members of the Alida Free Lutheran Church, Minnesota Farm Bureau and 4-H. Bryan is on the Alida Free Lutheran church board, the Headwaters Regional Farm Bureau Board and Gideon’s International. Stephanie is a Ladies Aid member of the Alida Free Lutheran church.
When asked what they consider to be the most important issue facing the local communities today, Bryan said, “Affordable energy. We need to keep America moving, cheap energy drives business and the economy. Reigning in government control, in rural America less is more. We need to keep the American dream alive for our children, work hard and anything is possible.
Stephanie stated, “there are many important issues facing our rural community such as education lagging behind urban areas, pollution, crime and drug use. I feel is important to pull together as a community and monitor conditions and then support public policies that are beneficial to helping retain a high quality of life.
The Ramsruds are looking forward to being part of the Emerging Leaders program for 2016.