Jim Beddow
Senior Consultant

Email: Jim.Beddow@RuralLearningCenter.org

About Me: I'm a small town guy who grew up watching my Dad run a John Deere implement dealership and taking his turn as mayor. Little did I know that community engagement would become my cause/passion later in life! As Yogi Berra would probably say, "you can learn a lot just by watching."

What I do at the RLC: Now that I am a "legal senior" (i.e. 66 years old), I just hang out as a worker bee. Lately I'm on major assignment to Deuel County, USA. Go up there several days a week and report into Howard the rest of the time As a senior consultant I mainly impart wisdom!

Hometown: Woonsocket, SD - "town with the beautiful lake." Experienced our 125th (July 2008) and my class reunion - 1960. So was actually 48th year reunion not 50.

What I wanted to be when I was little: I won the local Huckleberry Finn look alike contest when I was about 7. Lot of freckles is what put me over the top. So I started college as a possible "media talent" but it didn't work out.

Interesting previous job(s) I've held: If I wrote a book about my years as President of Dakota Wesleyan University, people would never believe the things that happened. My moniker became" I may be disappointed (with something weird someone did) but I won't be surprised."

Personal goal for 2008: Contribute to a successful startup of a regional development entity (unprecedented initiative) in Deuel County.

A place I want to visit at least once in my lifetime: Evening in an Irish pub drinking some of the local product and listening to classic Irish melodies. Now that our son is moving to London (July 2008), I might actually realize this fantasy.

Favorite rainy day activity: Reconciling the family check book in which my wife semi-regularly forgets to make entries!