Members of the first Leadership Calhoun Cohort recently presented a $7,600 donation to Curtis Vanderheiden, Calhoun County Conservation Director. The contribution represents proceeds from Leadership Calhoun presents Cuisine in the Corn, the Cohort’s class project held in August.
Cuisine in the Corn brought people together for a unique dining experience while showcasing the agricultural roots, rural character and strong sense of community that make Calhoun County special. As part of planning the event, Cohort members determined that proceeds would be directed toward two projects designed to make a lasting impact in the county.
The $7,600 donation to Calhoun County Conservation will support the Outdoor Classroom at the Calhoun County Nature Center, providing another opportunity for the success of Cuisine in the Corn to benefit residents and visitors for years to come.
The Cohort also designated $2,000 to establish a Leadership Calhoun Scholarship in conjunction with Iowa Central Community College. The scholarship will be awarded to a Calhoun County student who applies and intends to complete an education and return to Calhoun County to work.
During the current 2026–27 school year, members of Leadership Calhoun Cohort #1 will continue their involvement by presenting information about the scholarship opportunity to area schools. The goal is not only to provide financial assistance but also to encourage young people to see Calhoun County as a place where they can build a career, establish a home and become part of the next generation of community leaders.
The success of the inaugural class comes as Leadership Calhoun prepares to welcome Cohort #2 in October with 18 new members, expanding from 15 participants during its first year.
Cohort #2 truly represents the countywide mission of Leadership Calhoun. Participants come from all corners of Calhoun County — from Jolley to Farnhamville, Lake City to Manson, and communities and workplaces throughout the county. The geographic and professional diversity of the group will bring a wide range of experiences, perspectives and ideas to the program.
“We are so pleased to expand the Cohort from 15 to 18 members in our second year,” explained Theresa Hildreth, CCEDC Executive Director and Director of Leadership Calhoun. “The support from across the county is allowing CCEDC to expand the Cohort to a larger membership, and increased financial support from our named sponsors enhances our programming.”
Leadership Calhoun is an initiative of Calhoun County Economic Development Corporation designed to develop and connect current and emerging leaders while providing participants with a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing rural Iowa and Calhoun County.
The Cohort meets once each month from October through May, with each session focusing on a relevant issue affecting rural Iowa and, more specifically, Calhoun County. Through presentations, discussions, tours and hands-on experiences, participants gain a broader understanding of the county while building relationships with leaders, businesses, organizations and communities throughout the area.
Those relationships have proven to be one of the most meaningful outcomes of the program. Members of the first-year Cohort are already anxious to become involved as presenters during year two. Many have identified the months and topics in which they would like to participate, and some have even commented on how much they miss the monthly Cohort connection.
“This Leadership Calhoun experience not only exposed me to topics I wasn’t well versed in, it brought me 14 new friends from across the county,” shared one Cohort #1 member. “You can’t put a price on the relationships we created and the friendships that will last a lifetime.”
That enthusiasm is exactly what Leadership Calhoun was designed to create — a network of people who better understand their county, know one another across community and professional boundaries, and are willing to stay engaged long after their Cohort year has ended. As Cohort #2 begins, Cohort #1 members will have opportunities to share their experiences and knowledge with the next group, creating an expanding network of Leadership Calhoun alumni throughout the county.
The accomplishments of Cohort #1 demonstrate that Leadership Calhoun is about more than developing individual leadership skills. It is about creating connections and turning those connections into action.
From a dinner in the corn to an outdoor classroom, a scholarship encouraging future workers to come home, and friendships connecting people across the county, the first Leadership Calhoun Cohort has created an impact that will extend well beyond its inaugural year.
And with 18 new leaders representing communities across Calhoun County preparing to begin the journey in October, Leadership Calhoun is just getting started.