15. Mark Schultz, rural policy organizer

Sustainable Agriculture Policy with Ron Kroese

Mark Schultz felt he had to do something more with people whose voices weren’t being heard. So, he dedicated his career to farm and rural policy and organizing.

On this week’s podcast, Mark talks with Ron about his involvement in the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, crop insurance reform, and more.

He discusses his time at the Land Stewardship Program (LSP), a membership organization of more than 4,000 families, primarily in the rural Upper Midwest. In March 2020, he retired as executive director of LSP, after founding the organization’s nationally renowned Policy and Organizing program, as well as LSP’s Membership and Individual Giving Program, leading to continuous growth in LSP’s membership and individual giving over the past 11 years.

Mark has led numerous successful campaigns in farm and rural policy and organizing, while building LSP. Since 2005, much of his work in Minnesota has focused on working with other basebuilding organizations to align progressive power across the state in a new movement for economic, racial, and social justice, environmental stewardship, and prosperous communities.

The interview was conducted on Sept. 21, 2015.

Links this episode:
National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)
Land Stewardship Project

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