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Land Stewardship Project Picks Veteran Grassroots Organizer as New ED

Group Marks 40th Anniversary with New Leadership

January 10, 2022

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — As the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) launches its 40th year of “keeping the land and people together,” a veteran grassroots organizer has been selected as its new executive director, the organization’s board of directors announced today. When Mike McMahon takes over the helm at LSP on Jan. 18, he will also lead the organization’s 501(c)4 advocacy action arm, the Land Stewardship Action Fund (LSAF).

LSP executive director Mike McMahon

McMahon brings to this position over a quarter-century of experience working with nonprofit, grassroots, rurally-focused organizations — the majority of that time has been spent with LSP. After working with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement as a rural organizer in the mid-1990s, he joined LSP’s policy and organizing team in 1998, where, among other things, he organized hog farmers around the national pork checkoff campaign, which eventually went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. McMahon went on to work extensively with building LSP’s membership program, eventually becoming director of membership and individual giving. He served in that position until July 2020, when he left to work as the advancement director for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

Members of the LSP and LSAF boards said they were impressed with McMahon’s wealth of organizing, fundraising and management experience, as well as his dedication to and knowledge of the group’s mission and goals. Before leaving LSP in 2020, McMahon played an integral part in the development of the group’s current five-year plan, which plays a key role in guiding the organization’s work for creating a resilient and just farm and food system.

“As we move forward with the work of LSAF in relation to the mission of LSP, I am excited for Mike’s leadership and vision,” said Anna Racer, a member of the LSAF board who operates a Community Supported Agriculture farm in Minnesota’s Rice County. “His experience with member-led organizations is integral to strengthening our rural communities through the mission of this organization we all connect with so deeply. It won’t be easy, but we know we’re stronger when we work together.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of LSP, which was originally launched as a Midwestern-based soil stewardship advocacy organization. LSP still works extensively in the area of soil health and farmer-to-farmer education, but over the years has broadened its work into areas such as beginning farmer training, generational transfer of farmland, policy reform, local democracy and regional food systems development. LSP has offices in the Minnesota communities of Lewiston, Montevideo and south Minneapolis, and works throughout the Upper Midwest. McMahon is the sixth executive director to lead the group since organizers Ron Kroese and the late Victor Ray founded LSP in 1982. Since May 2021, Julie Emery has served as LSP’s interim executive director. During the next several weeks, she will be assisting in passing on leadership responsibilities to McMahon.

“We want to express our deepest appreciation to Julie Emery,” the LSP and LSAF boards said in a joint statement. “Her presence, professionalism and dedication to LSP’s mission has made it possible for us to reach this point as we move boldly forward in 2022 and beyond.”

Darrel Mosel, an LSP board member who raises crops and livestock in Minnesota’s Sibley County, said having someone with McMahon’s background leading the organization comes at an exciting time as he and other members dig deep into areas of work such as how to develop local, state and federal policy that supports small and medium-sized regenerative farmers.

“Of all the farm organizations in the state, LSP is probably in the best position now to have a positive impact on policy,” said Mosel, who has worked extensively on state and federal policy issues. “I am so glad Mike is heading our organization. His experience and dedication to LSP’s values and goals will assure that our voice will be heard on policy issues at all levels.”

McMahon said it is an honor to lead an organization that has a rich history of fighting for farmers, rural communities, and the land, and that he was looking forward to working with the group’s talented and passionate staff.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” he said. “The Land Stewardship Project means a lot to me, and its work to keep the land and people together is as needed today as it was 40 years ago. LSP’s innovative programs and organizing are essential to meeting the challenges and opportunities farmers and rural communities face today. I’m excited to be a part of LSP’s future.”

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The Land Stewardship Project (landstewardshipproject.org) is a private, nonprofit, membership-based organization founded in 1982 to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture and to develop healthy communities. It has offices in the Minnesota communities of Lewiston, Montevideo and south Minneapolis. 

Category: News Releases
Tags: 5-year plan • Land Stewardship Action Fund • Land Stewardship Project. nonprofit leadership • LSP • LSP board of directors • LSP executive director • Mike McMahon

Contact

Brian DeVore, LSP, e-mail, 612-816-9342

Photo Available

For a digital photo of Mike McMahon, contact DeVore.

 

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August 2025

Friday August 8

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
Friday August 8
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
10470 190th St, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

Roots and Rotation is a summer field day series happening across Minnesota. These field days will discuss the use of livestock for soil health goals in different agricultural systems. 
 
Learn about the benefits of integrating livestock onto cropland and how to make it work on your operation. Hear from experienced farmers and Extension educators specializing in crops, livestock, and soil health. These events are for producers looking to elevate their cropland soil health and increase their forage resources. 

For more information and to register, see the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association website.

4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
Friday August 8
4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
22955 570th Ave, Austin, MN 55912, USA

Members of the Land Stewardship Project’s Austin Area Soil Health Hub are hosting a sunflower social on Tom and Kim Finnegan’s farm Friday, Aug. 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event will be open to all area farmers. Meet members of this peer-to-peer farmer group, see the beautiful sunflower fields, and learn about diversification.  

Farming should include a trusted network that ensures we are all successful. How could having a network of farmers that provide support, resources, and comradery impact your farm? 

On Aug. 8, gather with area farmers who are invested in soil health and sustainable practices, and are committed to learning from each other. Join us for an evening on the Finnegan farm for a hay ride around the sunflower fields and to learn more about their diversified farm. There will be a supper and lots of time to connect with farmers in the area.

RSVP here. 

Thursday August 14

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSA-COPAL Ice Cream Social/Reunión de Helados!
Thursday August 14
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSA-COPAL Ice Cream Social/Reunión de Helados!
Sauk River Park, 206 5th Ave NE, Melrose, MN 56352, USA

Land Stewardship Action (the Land Stewardship Project’s partner organization) and COPAL (Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action) invite you to an ice cream social at Sauk River Park in Melrose on Thursday, August 14. There will be sweet treats and opportunities to connect with those in your community, many of whom you might not know yet. This is a time to come together over our shared vision for a better future rooted in community, diversity, fairness, health, and democracy.

If you’re able, please register ahead of time through the link below so we can get an idea of numbers. Feel free to pass the invite on to others in the community as well — the more the merrier!

You can register here. 
 
For more information, contact Land Stewardship Action’s Emily Minge at eminge@landstewardshipproject.org.

Friday August 15

9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Managed Grazing & Soil Health Field Day: Rush City
Friday August 15
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Managed Grazing & Soil Health Field Day: Rush City
10815 555th St, Rush City, MN 55069, USA

Join the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition at Jon Steven’s Maple Grove Farm for a field day focused on managed grazing and other methods to build the health of soils. Connect with other farmers and learn from the leaders in Minnesota on soil health. Featured speakers: Tom Cotter, Brady Wulf, Myron Sylling, and Joe Ailts. Free lunch by Maxwell’s Southern BBQ. Details are here.

Saturday August 16

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Master Class: Morris
Saturday August 16
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Master Class: Morris
Old No 1 Bar & Grill, 412 Atlantic Ave, Morris, MN 56267, USA

Details are here.

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