MORRIS, Minn. — Land Stewardship Action issued the following statement announcing its endorsement of Troy Goodnough, running for Stevens County Soil and Water Conservation Board District 5.
“We are proud to support Troy in his campaign to represent the people of Stevens County. We share a common vision for vibrant, growing rural communities and sustainable agricultural practices. If re-elected, we look forward to working with him to offer solutions at the local level,” stated Emily Minge, Political Organizer for LSA. “By focusing on local government, LSA aims to build participation and engagement in all levels of government. We know that there is so much power and possibility at the local level of government and we want to foster connections and understanding of how our values can be put into action.”
Troy is the Sustainability Director for the University of Minnesota, Morris.
When asked why he’s running, he said, “because I want to support soil and water health decision making in my community. I want to support the livelihoods of farmers in my community and help them access resources to pursue their land stewardship aspirations.” Regarding LSA’s endorsement he said, “I am thankful for the endorsement by Land Stewardship Action. I support an ethic of land stewardship. We are inheritors of what was passed on to us. We will determine what we pass on to future generations. I believe that our agricultural system can be more sustainable – in that we can make changes that improve social, environmental, and economic outcomes for farm families and the communities and systems that support them. I believe that land health translates to human health. I support the values of justice, democracy, health and community.”
To earn Land Stewardship Action’s endorsement, Troy completed an SWCD candidate questionnaire and cleared an internal vetting process with LSA’s Political Committee and Board of Directors.
This year, leading up to the fall elections, Land Stewardship Action is focusing on engaging members, supporting candidates, and building power at local levels of government. This includes elected Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors. This is a direct response to feedback from those in LSA’s base, as they feel most directly impacted by local government bodies. More information on LSA’s 2024 election initiatives and endorsed candidates may be found here: www.landstewardshipaction.org
Contact: Emily Minge, LSA, eminge@landstewardshipaction.org, 612-400-6353