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South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts was on campus March 27 to meet with �ձ�av��Ƶ students participating in ECON 319: Seminar with Industry Leaders. 

Roberts spoke about his path to leadership and how agriculture and conservation can work together. He also offered students advice as they enter the workforce.

“There are many pathways to success,” Roberts told the students. “Be intentional. Be nice. Be a problem-solver. Create relationships and value them.”

Secretary Roberts is part of an impressive lineup of speakers the students have heard from this semester. The goal of the course, taught by the Ness School of Management and Economics, is for students to engage with leaders across a variety of industries, including agribusiness, banking, finance, government policy and regulation.

This semester’s speakers have included Dana J. Dykhouse, CEO of First PREMIER Bank; Kurt Loudenback, president and CEO of Grand Prairie Foods Inc.; and Stephanie Judson, president and CEO of the South Dakota Community Foundation, among other leaders.

Despite the distinguished titles of the headliners, the format of the course is informal, unscripted and conversational rather than a standard lecture. The guest speakers are entirely accessible to students who are encouraged to ask any questions they would like.

“Students learn about leadership and — perhaps most importantly — students learn they have a place in leadership,” said Joe Santos, director of the Ness School of Management and Economics and the course’s professor. “Students learn about and analyze the challenges and opportunities that confront different industries and how leaders in the industries think about and make business and economic decisions.”

Offering students not just insight, but access to C-suites of corporations, government agencies, nonprofits and startups is a unique opportunity. Being able to ask them questions and have a conversation makes the occasion even more valuable.

“I suspect the opportunity is rare, particularly in the informal and accessible format the course affords,” Santos said. “I hope students learn leadership is not a trait they are either born with or without. Each student has the capacity to lead. Indeed, they must — our future depends on them.”

The final three seminars of the class will feature Vance Thompson, M.D., founder of Vance Thompson Vision, on April 17; Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS Inc., on April 24; and Mark Mickelson, founder and president of Mickelson & Company, on May 1.