If there's a couple of characteristics that stand out about the Iron Range, it's the pride of the people and their willingness to adapt, says Mike Liepold, Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership program director.

Liepold on June 25 brings a group of 30 leaders from rural Minnesota to the Iron Range to learn about the region, build leadership skills and become more effective in facilitating discussions about all portions of the state.

"The people we have in this leadership training represent different parts of Minnesota and they need to know about northeastern Minnesota," said Liepold. "You can't know Minnesota without going to the Iron Range,"

The Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) program is a two-year educational initiative in which rural leaders participate in nine three-day in-state seminars, a five-to-six day national seminar and a 10-to-14 day international seminar.

The goal is to develop skills of Minnesota's rural leaders so they can maximize their impact and effectiveness in local, state, national, and international discussions.

Among the group that will participate in the visit are officials that represent, corn growers, farmers, farming magazines, business owners, bankers, media, the University of Minnesota Extension, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

"This is the sixth time we have visited the Iron Range," said Liepold. "What our leaders have talked about in past visits is the pride that people have in the area, which is something that is very evident. They've also talked about how people on the Iron Range will make the sacrifice to help keep the mines going such as moving a highway."

This year's MARL trip to northeastern Minnesota includes a tour of a taconite mine, a visit to a logging operation and spending time on a farm near Duluth.

A total of about 100 people will take part in the three-day visit, including MARL family members.

The taconite mine tour is always a highlight of the visit, said Liepold.

"These people are agriculture leaders, so they are familiar with big equipment," said Liepold. "But just the size of the mining equipment is something that no one has a clue about until they see it."

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board staff will help host the group's taconite plant visit.