Sauk County Institute of Leadership Explores “Leadership in Nature or Natural Leadership?”

Sauk County, Wis., April 9, 2026 — The Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) hosted its April session, “Leadership in Nature or Natural Leadership?”, on Thursday, April 9 at White Mound County Park, bringing together leaders from across the county for a day focused on environmental insight, community impact, and leadership development in natural settings.

The day began with a welcome from Morgan McArthur, Extension Sauk County, setting the tone for a session centered on learning from both nature and community leaders. Participants then heard from Dorothy Harms, Founder of the Farmer Angel Network, a Farmer-to-Farmer support community. She highlighted compassion and leadership in time of crisis during her presentation, “Life Preserver in the Community”.

Jekka Alt of Sauk County Parks & Recreation followed with highlighting of Sauk County’s Parks, offering an inside look at stewardship, public service, and leadership in maintaining the county’s natural resources.

After a morning break, Paul Dietmann of Compeer Financial provided an overview of agriculture in Sauk County with “Planting the Seeds,” sharing historical and current trends and insights into the region’s agricultural landscape and its role in shaping the local economy, including the relationship of increased land, fuel and fertilizer costs, and their impact on farmer income. Serge Koenig, Conservation Analyst with Sauk County Land Resources and Environment, continued the conversation with “Why Farmers Matter,” emphasizing sustainability and environmental responsibility. Serge shared information on the impact of farm runoff on our natural water resources in the region and beyond, and how rotational grazing can help to alleviate pollution. He also provided tips that any of us can implement for protecting the environment, including not tilling your garden each season, and not mowing lawns shorter than 3-4 inches.

Lunch, catered by Red Barn Catering, provided an opportunity for participants to connect before heading outdoors for an interactive “Walk About: Finding Leadership in Nature,” led by Morgan McArthur. 

The afternoon concluded with the inspirational, “Frozen with Fear in the Chill of Change,” also led by Morgan, focusing on navigating uncertainty and embracing change, by reducing friction and barriers to change within leadership roles. The day wrapped up with closing remarks and reflections on how nature-inspired leadership can strengthen communities across Sauk County. 

Written by Peter Cauley and Christina Nall