Sutton Leaders

The Billie Sutton Leadership Institute’s Sutton Leaders program is a free, year-long leadership development program for a selective class of young professionals, community leaders, local elected officials, and people interested in public service or getting more involved in their community.

Sutton Leaders will participate in a free, expenses-paid weekend Leadership Retreat held April 19 - 21, 2024 in Chamberlain/Oacoma with Billie Sutton and some of the state’s top private and public sector leaders while learning leadership skills in workshops conducted by national experts.

Sutton Leaders will gain the skills and confidence to build and carry out individualized community engagement plans to make a difference in their communities. The Billie Sutton Leadership Institute will follow-up each month and guide Leaders as they execute their personally chosen community engagement plan. The class will network with other leaders in digital meet-ups and at an additional in-person event midway through the year.

Rural POWER

The Billie Sutton Leadership Institute’s Rural POWER program is sponsored by the South Dakota Farmers Union and "Powers Opportunities While Energizing Rural." 

Rural POWER is a free, year-long leadership development program, held in conjunction with the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute's traditional programing, but focused specifically on rural South Dakota. Rural POWER seeks to grow a new generation of rural leaders and encourage involvement in local rural cooperatives providing essential services to South Dakota communities.

Participants will engage in educational leadership training opportunities emphasizing community building and serving your neighbors, while learning from cooperative leaders committed to rural development. Participants will gain the knowledge and enthusiasm to re-imagine and re-energize rural South Dakota.

Rural POWER will kick off with a free, expenses-paid weekend Leadership Retreat held April 19 - 21, 2024 in Chamberlain/Oacoma. Participants will also network with mentors, learn from rural cooperative and community leaders in digital meet-ups, and join together for an additional in-person event midway through the year.