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Changes Ahead for LSP in 2023

Mike McMahon Departing as Executive Director

By The Board & Staff of LSP
December 18, 2022

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As the Land Stewardship Project begins the new year, Mike McMahon will be wrapping up his tenure as the executive director of LSP and the organization’s 501(c)4 political leadership development partner, the Land Stewardship Action Fund.

Mike McMahon

McMahon would like to share this message with LSP’s members: “The Land Stewardship Project is a special organization and it’s been a big part of my life. In my time with LSP, I have been fortunate to work closely with both members and staff to organize campaigns, to develop leaders, to grow the membership, to fundraise for the work, and more. As grateful as I am for this opportunity, I believe this is the time for me to depart. During my time as executive director, I have been increasingly drawn to work that will keep me more directly engaged in organizing, and I would like to pursue those opportunities.”

McMahon is working with the board of directors on a transition plan and timeline for his departure, which will be in early 2023. During the transition, Amy Brugh will be serving as a consultant to help with the process and serve as our interim executive director. Amy is an experienced interim executive director, planner, and facilitator. Her background is in public health, and she worked for 15 years in legislative policy before starting her own consulting firm.

McMahon has deep connections to the Land Stewardship Project. He joined LSP’s policy and organizing team in 1998, where, among other things, he organized hog farmers around the national pork checkoff campaign. He went on to work extensively with building LSP’s membership program, eventually becoming director of membership and individual giving. He served as LSP’s co-managing director in 2020, after which he left to work as the advancement director for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Mike returned to LSP as its executive director in early 2022.

“The board has accepted Mike’s resignation with deep appreciation for the stability and coherence he has brought to our organization during his tenure and an equally deep understanding of his passion for on-the-ground, grassroots organizing for the land and its people, work that is his calling,” said Beth Slocum, chair of LSP’s board of directors. She added, “Deep roots — that’s what sustains LSP, our staff, our members, and supporters, as well as our allies. In his multiple roles at LSP, Mike has demonstrated those deep roots within our organization. We know that wherever this next chapter opens up for Mike in organizing for people and the land, he will continue to grow from the roots he set down with LSP. We wish him the best.”

During the past year, McMahon’s stable and competent leadership steered the organization through a phase of emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to expand its work in the areas of beginning farmer training, intergenerational transfer of farms, grassroots organizing, advancing soil health, and revitalizing community food systems. Mike also oversaw the implementation of the organization’s first collective bargaining agreement with the newly formed Land Stewardship Workers Union, along with improvements to the organization’s internal, administrative operations.

Leadership transitions are never easy, but the Land Stewardship Project has in place a board of directors, staff, and management team that are in an excellent position to develop new leadership during the upcoming year. Even more importantly, LSP has members like you who continue to organize and work together to advance the mission and vision of the organization.

As LSP wraps up its 40th year of working to “keep the land and people together” and looks forward to 2023, we are excited to continue as well as build upon the work related to beginning farmers, soil health, public policy development, community-based foods, creating a just food and farm system for everyone, and challenging corporate consolidation.

Please stay tuned-in during the new year for updates on LSP’s leadership transition. In the meantime, if you have any questions, contact Brian DeVore at 612-816-9342 or bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org.

Category: Blog
Tags: Land Stewardship Project • LSP leadership • Mike McMahon

Upcoming Events

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June 2023

Wednesday June 7

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Winter Camelina
Wednesday June 7
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Winter Camelina

The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. On June 7, there will be a webinar on winter camelina. Presenters include Matthew Ott (UMN post doc researcher, camelina genetics) and Anne Schwagerl (farmer, Browns Valley, Minn.).

To sign-up for the June 7 webinar on winter camelina, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Local Foods Planning Session June 7 in Madison
Wednesday June 7
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Local Foods Planning Session June 7 in Madison

The Madison Mercantile Local Food Planning Group will be meetingWednesday, June 7, from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.,at the Madison Mercantile. We will be brainstorming plans for creating a local food infrastructure at the Mercantile, as well as sharing local food opportunities through theReal Food Hub in WillmarandBecker Market.

Madison Mercantile Local Food Planning Group

Wednesday, June 7th @ 6 PM

Madison Mercantile

601 1st St., Madison, MN

Tuesday June 13

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Kernza
Tuesday June 13
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Kernza

The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. The June 13 webinar on Kernza features Jake Jungers (UMN assistant professor), Prabin Bajgain (UMN assistant professor) and Jay Peterson (farmer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.)

To sign up for the June 13 webinar on Kernza, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Upper Sioux State Park Land Return Listening Sessions & Planning Forward
Tuesday June 13
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Upper Sioux State Park Land Return Listening Sessions & Planning Forward

On April 5,there was a historic town hall meeting in Granite Falls where regional residents and Upper Sioux Community members came together to learn about the Upper Sioux Community’s history, relationship, and desires for the return of the Upper Sioux Agency State Park to the Upper Sioux Community. We also were able to ask questions of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources representatives and local elected officials, as well other community members. A proposal to return the state park land to the Upper Sioux Community was officially passed by the Minnesota Legislature during its recently concluded session.

We were encouraged by how we saw our neighbors respond to this proposal, being for the most part supportive of the return.We also heard how important and precious access to green spaces is to all of us who live here, and that many of us have deep connections and relationships with that park.

Please come and share your stories of connection and relationship to the Upper Sioux Agency State Park; we want to understand and honor our connection to this place and channelour passion for the area. We want to think as a community where we might be able to create new public access acres in the river valley with the funds allocated for replacement.Let’s beready and united to advocate locally for these green acres!

Join us on Tuesday, June 13, and/or Wednesday, June 28, at the Granite Falls Kilowatt Community Center (600 Kilowatt Drive, Granite Falls, MN 5624), from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for a light meal, and to share our stories and link arms to create new parkland in western Minnesota.

This event is free and open to the public, but food can only be guaranteed for those who register in advance. Please clickhere to register for June 13and/orhere to register for June 28.

Please contact Robin Moore atrmoore@landstewardshipproject.orgor 320-321-5244 if you have any questions.

This event is organized and hosted in partnership with The YES! House with Department of Public Transformation.

Wednesday June 14

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Hybrid Winter Rye
Wednesday June 14
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Hybrid Winter Rye

The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. On June 14, there will be a webinar on hybrid winter rye. Presenters include Jochum Wiersma (UMN Extension small grains agronomist) and Richard Magnusson (farmer, Roseau, Minn.)

To sign-up for the June 14 webinar on hybrid winter rye, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

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