The next CRC will be in Yarnell, the site of the 2013 fire which took the lives of 19 Hotshots,

and burned 127 homes. PC Alumnae Frances

Lechner (Class XVIII) and Becky Hays Rovey

(Class XIX) are teaming up to provide a look at

the recovery efforts, and how a small, unincorporated community fits into larger

issues such as range management, AZ water

issues and management of state land. Lunch will be provided in the

lovely garden of the Hays family in Peeples Valley, just 4 miles up the

road. Speakers will include local leaders, as well as Lisa Atkins,

Commissioner, Arizona State Land Department and former Board President, Central Arizona Project.

We look forward to seeing you where the desert breeze meets the

mountain air!”

Yarnell Community Center

22302 State Route 89

Yarnell, AZ 85362

See Page 3 for additional details. Please RSVP by August 7th to Frances

Lechner at 623-256-5125 or flechner52@gmail.com

CENTRL Regional Connection (CRC) in

Yarnell, AZ — Saturday, August 15, 2015

S p e c i a l

p o i n t s o f

i n t e r e s t :

Show Your CENTRL

Pride with the Alumni

Pin—Page 4

Introducing Class

XXIV—Page 6

Willcox CRC By Heather Floyd (XXII)

The Project CENTRL alumni held their spring CRC February 7th at several locations around Willcox, AZ. Over 40 alumni attended, with attendees ranging from Class II all the way to Class XXIII. It was great to see so many different classes represented and networking with one another. Heather Floyd (Class XXII) was our host for the day. The day started with a tour of Inde Motorsports Ranch by John Mabry, Director of Operations. Inde is a membership based track for car enthusiasts to come enjoy their cars; either racing solo or against one another. The track has also been used as a test track for several entities in the car industry to test out new technologies. Continued

on page 8

J u l y 2 0 1 5

w w w . c e n t r l . o r g

Council Chair 2

Director’s Report 4

Alumni Pin 4

From the Board 5

Class XXIV 6

Alumni Awards 7

Class XXIII 9

I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e :

CENTRL Connections

“The Center for Rural Leadership”

Class XXV Application

Deadline—Page 12

J u l y 2 0 1 5 P a g e 2

In June I attended or should I say experienced the CENTRL graduation of Class

XXIII and the start of Class XXIV. I was in Class VI and time is catching up with

me. I am reflecting a bit more on things nowadays. Experiencing the graduation and

seeing the new class is a good cause for reflection on CENTRL. Our Mission is “To

equip and empower leaders to meet the needs of rural Arizona,” Our Vision is to

have “Rural Arizona healthy, vibrant and sustainable.” I believe we should be proud

of these two classes as from all appearances our mission and vision are safe. The

best part of the new class is there are four members from Graham and Greenlee

Counties and we are as rural as they come in Arizona. The new class is made up

primarily of folks from the small counties and that will keep the rural in our mission

and vision. Class XXIII wrote and sang a song about their CENTRL experience

and that kind of enthusiasm and creativity will keep rural Arizona vibrant.

So as I reflect on CENTRL and much closer to home the Alumni Council. I wonder

why is Lisa James (XIX) our Reporter and newsletter editor? She is willing! Why is

Doug Norton (XVIII) our Secretary? He is willing! Why is Terisha Driggs (XX) our Vice Chair? She is willing. I

could go on, but willingness to step up to do the little bit extra is what makes for a good leader and their success.

That willingness to step up is what I see in Classes XXIII and XXIV and it makes me excited about the past and

especially the future for Project CENTRL and more importantly rural Arizona. Many folks over the years have

been willing to step up to make Project CENTRL a success and one of the premier rural leadership programs in

America. You, as an Alumni, are part of that success because when you graduated, went home and willingly

stepped up to make your rural Arizona healthy, vibrant and sustainable you fulfilled the vision of Project

CENTRL. Two examples of Alumni willingness to step up were recipients of this year’s Alumni Awards; Class

XX’s Wes Kerr for Agrarian Impact and Class XIV’s Brenda Manthei for Civic Impact. Another example of

folks willing to step up are those that have pledged funding to support the current and future CENTRL class

trips to Mexico.

As I close, I ask you to reflect on your past and hopefully your future Project CENTRL experience. We all don’t

have the time to give for volunteering to be on the Alumni Council, we all don’t have the financial capabilities to

donate to Project CENTRL, but I am sure we all can do that little bit extra so we can guarantee the continued

success of Project CENTRL. Please reflect upon that little bit extra and see what you are willing to do! See you

in Yarnell August 15th at your next CRC and experience how folks have been willing to step up in the midst of

one of the most terrible tragedies in Arizona history.

Willingness to Step Up!

Class XX Alum Chosen for National

Leadership Program

Terisha Driggs (Class XX, Alumni Council Vice-Chair) was selected by the American

Farm Bureau Federation to participate in the organization’s eighth Partners in Agricultural

Leadership class. PAL is designed to help agricultural leaders accelerate their leadership

abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture.

Bill Brandau , Class VI Alumni Council Chair

C E N T R L C o n n e c t i o ns P a g e 3

Join us at the Yarnell Community Center, Saturday, August 15th Program starts at 10:00 a.m.

10:00 am Yarnell Community Center

22302 Hwy 89 Yarnell, AZ 85362

Noon Lunch at the Hays Ranch 15269 Hwy 89

Peeples Valley, AZ 86332 Tour highlights – new homes being built in

the Glen Ilah subdivision, the “Yarnell Mall” (Library, Community Center, Community Garden), site of fire break, Yarnell

Hill Fire Memorial Park site and new Fire Administration Building with community and

medical facilities. Camping space is available in several

locations, but we’ll need your RSVP by Friday, August 7 in order to ensure enough places to stay. Contact Frances at 623-256-

5125 or flechner52@gmail.com.

Hotel accommodations are also available in either Wickenburg (30 minutes to the South) or Prescott (45 minutes to the North).

For those of you who like to party, Friday nights at the Diner in Yarnell provide an

unexpectedly lively time with very friendly residents who like to drink and dance. BYOB!

Yarnell CRC Continued from Page 1

Come to the CRC in Yarnell and receive your copy of the new CENTRL Alumni Directory!

J u l y 2 0 1 5 P a g e 4

Setting an example is not the main means of influencing

another, it is the only means. Albert Einstein

I like this quote since I feel it applies to Project CENTRL. In the course of your

CENTRL journey as a participant and then an alumni I am sure you experienced

many times, those moments when listening to a presenter or going through a training,

how impressed you were with the individual who was speaking. Or you had a moment

when you were amazed when hearing about the life journey of a fellow class member

and you were in awe to know that class member. As leaders you have the opportunity

to set a positive example in your interactions with others and this interaction can

influence their actions.

I had one of those moments while participating in Seminar 1 of Class XXIV. A class member introduced

herself in her native language and then repeated her introduction in English. Her introduction was delivered

during the “Personal Business Card” session conducted by CENTRL Board member Glenna McCollum-

Cloud (IX). I can’t wait to learn more about her culture from her as I interact with the class over the next

year. I know getting to know her will help influence me in my interactions with others from her culture.

I can’t believe we completed another year of CENTRL. The year went by so fast. We now have over 600

CENTRL alumni. Since completing my second year as Director, I feel confident that CENTRL gives each

participant the opportunity to develop the skills needed to influence others in their community. Our

graduation dinner was excellent as we heard about Mark Killian’s leadership journey on the path to his current

leadership role as Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

Speaking of influence, Everett Rhodes (III) retired from Cooperative Extension after 29 years of service.

Sixteen of those years he spent as Director of CENTRL. Alumni have talked to me about Everett’s positive

impact during personal interactions with him or through their participation in the seminars in which he

scheduled the speakers. All the alumni who had Everett as your CENTRL Director were able to see the

professional and caring example he provided. He set the example for many who now have the potential to

influence others in their community.

Show your CENTRL Pride

with a nominal

donation of $20

Contact the CENTRL office at 520-316-0909 or karen@centrl.org

Director’s Report

CENTRL Alumni Pin

Monica Kilcullen Pastor mpastor@cals.arizona.edu

C E N T R L C o n n e c t i o ns P a g e 5

Since 1983 the Project CENTRL Board of Directors, Curriculum

Committee and staff have provided an excellent two-year leadership

program, training nearly 600 Project CENTRL graduates across the state

of Arizona. Beginning with Class XXII, the program became a one-year

program under the leadership of Curriculum Chairperson, Paul Brierley

(XVI). During exit interviews with Class XXII and XXIII, excellent feedback

was given as the new one-year participants responded to questions such

as: What were your expectations and were they met? What part of the

program did you find most beneficial? Least beneficial? Would you

recommend CENTRL to others? And, what additional suggestions do you

have for the Curriculum Committee of Project CENTRL? The one-year

program continues to be refined and experiences enhanced as

comments from participants and feedback from evaluations are

incorporated into the one-year program.

For the 2015-2016 Class XXIV, a 16 member class began their one-year journey June 25-27 at

the San Marcos Resort in Chandler, Arizona. The curriculum outcomes and benchmarks

continue to be based on the six key elements of the leadership experience: Communication,

Confidence, Competence, Critical Thinking, Initiative, and Teamwork. To that end, a new course

Syllabus is being prepared for distribution during Seminar 2, enabling class members to plan

ahead and prepare for the following seminars:

Seminar 1 Fundamentals of Leadership

OBJECTIVE: To assess and improve essential leadership skills. This seminar sets the stage for

the participant to actively engage in the Project CENTRL program, assesses their personal

leadership skills, and through the “True Colors” workshop, provides practical tools for fostering

healthy and productive relationships.

Seminar 2 Secrets of Effective Communication

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate impactful messaging techniques for targeted audiences. This

seminar provides the participant with proven strategies to enhance public speaking skills and

messaging for targeted audiences.

Seminar 3 Ranching & Natural Resources OBJECTIVE: To understand the importance of Arizona’s natural resources and the environmental concerns facing rural Arizona and the mining industry. This seminar provides the participant with

information about Arizona’s use of water, rangelands, mining, forestry, wildlife and energy, plus

a workshop on becoming a rural activist.

Seminar 4 21st Century Agriculture OBJECTIVE: To understand production agriculture and the challenges facing Arizona’s diverse agriculture industry. Participants will hear from experts, visit a variety of 21st century

agricultural operations, and through the Arizona Town Hall process they will work toward

consensus solutions to the issues of public trust in the food supply and restoring economic

vitality to natural resource-based communities. Teams will begin work on the “Make a

Difference” exercise.

Continued on Page 10

Message from the Board

Dr. Glenna McCollum-Cloud

2015-2016 Curriculum Chair Project CENTRL Board of Directors

J u l y 2 0 1 5 P a g e 6

Introducing Class XXIV

John Basteen

Duncan

Jocelyn Beard

Page

Bethany Cheney

Tonto Basin

Jack Fields

Prescott

Ed Gerak

Buckeye (not pictured)

Minda Greene

Yuma

Andy Hampton

Casa Grande

Paul Heiden

Buckeye

Michael Hughes

Sonoita

Timmothy Klump

Willcox

JoanEllen Lowry

Taylor

Jarom Lunt

Safford

Amber Morin

Apache Junction

Tiffany Selchow

Chandler

Annette Watson

Safford

Susan Williams

Kingman

C E N T R L C o n n e c t i o ns P a g e 7

Civic Impact Award: Brenda Manthei (XIV) Brenda has made a large impact in her community in both her personal and professional life. She goes above and beyond her role as a suicide prevention trainer and therapist. Brenda’s personal passion to help others is shown daily through her compassion, insight and knowledge. Brenda is known for helping those outside of work and within her community. She is a role model to everyone she meets and truly lives the life that she preaches. Although humble, Brenda’s skillful expertise through life and education are shared to those around her. Brenda always takes the time necessary and makes personal sacrifice to help those in need. She is someone that others look up to and they admire her grace in adverse situations.

Agrarian Impact Award: Wes Kerr (XX) Wes is the Manager of Kerr Dairy in Buckeye Arizona. He and his family have an open door policy at their dairy: they want the public to know about how their milk is produced. The community outreach and education that Wes does has not only made a positive impact on their dairy farm, but on all agriculture. Wes regularly has groups of teachers and classrooms out to tour the dairy. He attends community outreach events and programs, such as Farm-City Partnership Breakfasts hosted by the local Farm Bureau and Maricopa County Cooperative Extension where he can talk one on one to consumers about what he does. Wes has started and continues a great dialogue between agricultural producers and the public.

On Google, there are many great blog posts written about the bloggers’ experience visiting the Kerr Dairy. Wes has created many videos to show the public just what happens on a dairy, how clean they are and how well the animals are treated and educates on advancements that are being made right on the dairy, like the polled genetics within their herd. Wes has made a point to get into the classroom and teach school kids and their teachers about agriculture and the dairy industry. Wes is a great example of a farm leader in action.

2015 Outstanding Alumni Award Presentations

Alumni in Action

Dean Wink was in Class I of Project CENTRL and he is very thankful

for the experience.

Dean entered politics in 2002 and served as a County Commissioner

for 6 years before running for the South Dakota House of

Representatives. He spent his first two terms on the Appropriations

Committee, Chairing the Committee in his second term. The House

elected Dean as Speaker Pro Tempore in his 3rd term and he has

recently been elected Speaker of the House. Due to term limits, this will be his last term and he intends to thoroughly enjoy the

experience.

Dean sends greetings to his classmates! He and his wife Joan plan

on spending much more time in Arizona when he leaves politics.

Class XV’s Rick Stillion Devoted His Life to Kids and Profession

J u l y 2 0 1 5 P a g e 8

There are several villas on site for members to stay and enjoy a few days at the track. The

highlight of the trip was the opportunity for alumni to sit in the cars that are stored onsite; Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 and 1999 Shelby Series 1 were just a few of the many beautiful

vehicles.

Next, the group went over to Coronado Vineyards for lunch. Coronado Vineyards was established

in 2006 by CENTRL alum, Jacque Cook (Class XV). Coronado was on the forefront of the wine industry in Willcox that has now grown to over ten vineyards in the area. Willcox vineyards are

doing something unique by banding together for joint advertising and marketing. Wines of

Willcox website and related print material promoting the region are key pieces in this effort. There

are now two annual wine festivals hosted in Willcox, the next event is October 17-18 if you want

to come sample the wine offerings of the area.

Lunch was hosted by Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives (AZGT). AZGT is currently facing several EPA

regulations that are threatening the viability of the cooperatives and their ability to provide power

to rural Arizona. Heather Floyd gave an overview of the regional haze, fly ash and clean power

plan regulations and how they impact the cooperatives. Electric Cooperatives were formed by

farmers in the 1930’s to provide power to rural communities.

After lunch, the group went on a trek to the

Dragoon Mountains to the Amerind Museum. At

the museum they were given a private tour of the

museum and gallery devoted to telling the story of

Indians in North America. The serenity of the museum and grounds was a great way to end the

day of another successful CRC event. I would

encourage you all to attend future CRCs to learn

about the many beautiful and unique things our

state has to offer and most importantly to stay

connected with your CENTRL Alumni and meet other Alums.

Willcox CRC Continued from Page 1

Excerpts from an article by Scott Bordow, azcentral sports. To read the full article, click here.

The football season meant one thing for Suzanne Stillion: She'd rarely see her husband. "I figured from the middle of August until the middle of December I'd see him in passing," Suzanne said. "That was OK. It was just so much fun for him. I'd call myself a football widow." Sadly, that phrase now has an entirely different meaning for Suzanne. Rick, 59, passed away on March 14th. Rick collapsed after officiating Special Olympics flag football games all day. Perhaps it was fitting that Rick died officiating games because they were so much

a part of his life. For 35 years he had been an official for the Arizona Interscholastic Association in addition to devoting his time and energy to youth sports. "He loved it from day one," Suzanne said. Rick and Suzanne would have celebrated their 39th anniversary this June.

The Arizona Football Officials Association recently inducted Rick into the AzFOA’s Hall of Fame.

Photo: Provided to azcentral sports)

On June 26, 2015 Class XXIII of Project CENTRL (the best class ever) graduated at the San Marcos Resort, in Chandler.

The event marked the end of an incredible journey of growth, education and exploration. Class XXIII would like to

extend their utmost gratitude to the countless speakers, board members and council members who made this experience

possible.

In April, Class XXIII had a whirlwind tour of Washington DC that included meeting all but a few of our state’s

representatives. Senator Flake was kind enough to spend more than half an hour fielding questions from the group.

Class XXIII also had the opportunity to meet with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Farm

Bureau, the Environmental Protection Agency, Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and the

Department of Agriculture. Following

the mad dash through the District,

class members enjoyed the slow pace

of touring Northern Virginia.

Highlights included True Farms; a

hydroponic lettuce operation. A fox

hunting club, Ayershire Organic/

Humane Farms in Middleburg and the

true tour highlight (class favorite) was

Old House Vineyards in Culpeper, VA.

Merely six days after their return from

Washington D.C. Class XXIII hosted a

benefit golf tournament at the San

Marcos Hotel in order to raise funds

f o r P r o j e c t C E N T R L .

Continued on Page 11

C E N T R L C o n n e c t i o ns P a g e 9

Basilio Aja Maricopa

Holly Berryhill

Douglas

Micaela Cheatham Phoenix

Pamela Griffin

Globe

Trever Hall Mesa

Jeff Womack

Willcox

Katie Hanger Phoenix

Mark Loghry

Yuma

Roland Mader Phoenix

Merce’dez McCloud

-Benjamin Flagstaff

Deana Monk

Payson

Lauren Scheller

Goodyear

Don Schlander Phoenix

Dan Scholl

Phoenix

Sharma Torrens Tucson

John Wirtjes

Peoria

Welcome to the Alumni, Class XXIII!

Class XXIII Update and Graduation by Micaela Cheatham (XXIII)

J u l y 2 0 1 5 P a g e 1 0

Seminar 5 Arizona Issues: Making a Difference OBJECTIVES: To understand Arizona’s border/immigration issues, the produce industry and rural healthcare. To deliver a powerful team presentation for public policy change applicable to local communities. Teams of classmates will prepare and present “Make a Difference” presentations on

their assigned issue.

Seminar 6 Shaping Public Policy in Arizona OBJECTIVE: To understand and engage in public policy formation at the state level.

This seminar provides public policy training and actively engages the participant in rural and

agricultural related public policy issues with public officials in the State Legislature and with

state agencies. This seminar also prepares the participant for the national seminar in

Washington DC.

Seminar 7 Shaping Public Policy in Washington DC

OBJECTIVE: To learn how to engage on national issues impacting agriculture and rural Arizona. This seminar, a five day study tour, provides the opportunity for the participant to utilize the

knowledge and skills gained throughout the Project CENTRL program by engaging with public

officials at the national level to discuss issues impacting agriculture and rural Arizona. It will end

with a state study tour to see some real-world examples.

Seminar 8 Polishing Leadership Skills

Objective: To reflect on the experiences of the one-year Project CENTRL leadership training

program. This concluding graduation seminar provides the opportunity for the participant to

identify the personal and professional benchmarks of the six key elements of the leadership

experience, applying Communication, Confidence, Competence, Critical Thinking, Initiative, and Teamwork.

Additional Seminar (May) International Trip to Mexico

Thanks to the strong encouragement and substantial financial support from alumni, Phillip

Merrill, Class XXIV will also be participating in an international seminar with a trip to Mexico.

This seminar, facilitated by Dr. George Seperich, has been made possible through additional

fundraising by the Project CENTRL BOD and support from Bas Aja (VII), Carrie Hamstra (XII),

Paul Brierley (XVI), Dr. Scholl Foundation (tentative), Phillip Merrill (XIX), Con Englehorn, Bill

Brandau (VI), George Seperich, Cheryl Goar (IX), Russ Jones, and The Otto and Edna Neely

Foundation.

In summary, Class XXIV and beyond will

benefit from a one-year Project CENTRL

program, a 16 member class size, the

reincorporation of Thursday night arrival and

class networking, a revised timeline for the

“Make a Difference” project, a Program Syllabus,

Board Member presence at each seminar, more

“hands-on” experiences, a greater emphasis

(when possible) for on-site rural visits, and the

addition of an exciting International Trip.

Message from the Board Continued from Page 5

The event was very successful, hosting 88 golfers,

many of which were CENTRL Alumni members.

A raffle and silent auction were offered at the

event. The golf tournament brought in a net

amount just over $7,800.00 to support the future

of Project CENTRL.

The graduation celebration held in June marked

the end of their journey. Class XXIII completed

the program by spending a few hours with the

illustrious Randy Frazier, concluding his

“Leadership Takes Courage” training. Class

members evaluated their experience in the

program and prepared for their graduation

celebration themed “Boots and Suits.”

Arizona Department of Agriculture Director, Mark Killian served as the

keynote speaker for the evening, focusing on the need for leadership and

advocacy to ensure a strong future of Arizona agriculture. The highlight

of graduation was when Class XXIII brought down the house with a

musical performance. With the leadership and musical talent of class

member Don Schlander, they changed the words of The Beatles song “Let

It Be.” Schlander adapted the song to reflect their experience within the

program and titled the new version “Project C.”

Class XXIII presented Karen Vanderheyden, Monica Pastor and Cheryl

Goar with small tokens of gratitude for their fantastic contributions to the

success of the class (and excellent class member wrangling skills.) Class XXIII

raised an additional $3,500 through the graduation silent auction, for a

total of a $11,300.00 contribution to the program.

Class XXIII Continued from Page 9

C E N T R L C o n n e c t i o ns P a g e 1 1

“And as we leave our year

together there is one thing that we all agree

We will be a factor Project C,

Project C”

Chair

Bill Brandau (VI)

928-965-5198 wbrandau@cals.arizona.edu

Vice-Chair

Terisha Driggs (XX)

480-678-0253 Terisha_driggs@yahoo.com

Reporter

Lisa Ann James (XIX) 602-510-4770

ljames@azda.gov Past Chair

Tiffany Ground (XIX)

602-909-9696 tiffany@consolidatedag.com

Class XXIV

Representatives

Andy Hampton Jerom Lunt

Council Members

Heather Floyd (XXII)

520-686-1602 hfloyd@ssw.coop

Anthony Hancock (XXII)

928-210-3649 agr271@yahoo.com

Doug Norton (XVIII)

520-975-8804 douglas.norton@fcssw.com

Marguerite Tan (XXII)

217-898-0661 MATan@pffjfarms.com

820 East Cottonwood Lane, Bldg C

Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Monica Pastor, CENTRL Director

Karen Vanderheyden, Program

Coordinator Sr.

Phone: 520-316-0909 or

866-316-0909

Email: karen@centrl.org

project centrl

“The Center for Rural Leadership”

To equip and empower

leaders to meet the

needs of rural Arizona

We’re on the Web!

www.centrl.org

CENTRL Board

of Directors

Officers

Cheryl Goar, President George Seperich, Vice President

Jim Webb, Secretary Brett Cameron, Treasurer

Bill Brandau, Alumni Chair Board Members

Bas Aja

Grant Boice Paul Brierley Con Englehorn

Matt Eyrich Carrie Hamstra

Jim Klinker Lucia Konrath

Glenna McCollum-Cloud Robert Shuler

Erik Swanson Joy Winzerling

Member at Large

Jeff Silvertooth

Keep sending your articles, interesting stories and pictures to:

Lisa Ann James at ljames@azda.gov

Or the CENTRL Office at karen@centrl.org

CENTRL Alumni Council

As alumni and current class members of this amazing program, we should be actively searching for new candidates all year long. If you

know of anyone who might be interested in applying, please pass on

the information below and offer your assistance with their application.

Detailed program information and application packets are available at

www.centrl.org. Additional information is available by contacting

Karen Vanderheyden at karen@centrl.org or calling the

Project CENTRL office at 520.316.0909.

March 1st will be here before we know it.

Candidates are encouraged to apply earlier.

Class XXV applications are due by March 1st