Community Impact

Prairieland EDC management and staff engage in activities that benefit the region. As a group, we work to promote activites that benefit the communities we live in and surrounding communities as well.

Prairieland EDC Scholarship

The original Prairieland EDC Scholarship was created in 2001 as a way for Dr. Ralph W. Knapp, former Minnesota West Community and Technical College President, to demonstrate his dedication to education and to the region. In 2008, Prairieland EDC initiated the 25th Anniversary Scholarships in an effort to give back to the small businesses and the region they have served for the past 25 years. On May 14, 2009, Prairieland EDC awarded 26 senior high school students from Minnesota and Eastern South Dakota Scholarships during Prairieland EDC’s 25th Anniversary Celebration.

It is the businesses that have made Prairieland EDC successful and in looking forward, Prairieland EDC wanted to continue to give back in order to see the future generation achieve similar success in whatever they elect to pursue. In looking for ways to continue making a difference, Prairieland EDC is decided to continue the Prairieland EDC Scholarship that evolved from the original Prairieland EDC Scholarship and the 25th Anniversary Scholarship.

Prairieland EDC is proud to annouce that Christian Klein of Marshall, Minnesota has been awarded the 2011 Prairieland EDC Scholarship. This year's scholarship applicant winner came from the business Klein Foods, Inc./Walnut Grove Mercantile in Marshall, Minnesota. The Prairieland EDC Scholarship to be awarded is a $2,500.00 Scholarship and is awarded up to four years.

2011 Prairieland EDC Scholarship Receipent Christian Klein - Marshall, MN

2010 Prairieland EDC Scholarship Receipent Samuel Guetter - Wabasso, MN

Prairieland EDC 25th Anniversary Scholarship

This past year, Prairieland EDC established the 25th Anniversary Scholarship in an effort to give back to the small businesses and the region they serve. This scholarship was exclusively available to owners and employees that have/are senior high school students of small businesses Prairieland EDC has financed.

Prairieland EDC is proud to announce that 25 senior high school students from Minnesota and Eastern South Dakota have each been awarded a $250.00 Prairieland EDC 25th Anniversary Scholarship per academic year. In addition, one senior high school student from Southwestern Minnesota has been awarded a $2,500.00 Prairieland EDC 25th Anniversary Scholarship per academic year.

Click on the faces of the 25th Anniversary Scholarship recipients below to learn more about them.

Prairieland EDC 25th Anniversary Scholarship Winners
Kaila Hamann
Kaila Hamann
Business
Pizza Ranch of Pipestone,Inc. of Pipestone, MN
High School
Pipestone Area School
Future Plans
Kaila was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend Southwest Minnesota State University, major in Justice Administration and minor in Social Work.
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Jacob Edwards
Jacob Edwards
Business
Empire Plastics, Inc. of Sioux Falls, SD
High School
Brandon Valley High School
Future Plans
Jacob was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. He plans to attend South Dakota State University and major in Business.
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Ryan Parker
Ryan Parker
Business
Marshall Truss Systems, Inc. of Marshall, MN
High School
Marshall Senior High School
Future Plans
Ryan was awarded the $2,500 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. He plans to attend the University of St. Thomas and is undecided in his major.
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Taylor Ahlers
Taylor Ahlers
Business
Precision Manufacturing & Machine, Inc. of Fulda, MN
High School
Fulda High School
Future Plans
Taylor was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato and major in Fashion.
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Blake Ahlers
Blake Ahlers
Business
Precision Manufacturing & Machine, Inc. of Fulda, MN
High School
Fulda High School
Future Plans
Blake was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend Avalon School of Cosmetology and major in Cosmetology.
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Kortney Baumann
Kortney Baumann
Business
Hussong Manufacturing Company, Inc. of Lakefield, MN
High School
Southwest Star Concept
Future Plans
Kortney was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend Rochester Community and Technical College and major in Medical Social Work.
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Spencer Henle
Spencer Henle
Business
Henle Speedy Print, Inc. of Marshall, MN
High School
Marshall Senior High School
Future Plans
Spencer was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. He plans to attend St. Cloud State University and major in Finance.
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Nicole Kor
Nicole Kor
Business
Awards Plus of Southwest Minnesota, Inc. of Marshall, MN
High School
Marshall Senior High School
Future Plans
Nicole was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth and major in Business and Music.
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Emily Schwendemann
Emily Schwendemann
Business
Star Group, LLC dba NAPA Auto Parts & Truck Parts of Chaska, MN
High School
Glencoe - Silver Lake
Future Plans
Emily was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and major in Dairy Science focusing in pre-veterinary.
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RoseAnn Wendinger
RoseAnn Wendinger
Business
Star Group, LLC dba NAPA Auto Parts & Truck Parts of Chaska, MN
High School
Glencoe - Silver Lake
Future Plans
RoseAnn was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend Southwest Minnesota State University and major in Ag-Business and Finance.
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Mariah Grelson
Mariah Grelson
Business
Lyon Lodging, LLC dba Comfort Inn of Marshall, MN
High School
Marshall Senior High School
Future Plans
Mariah was awarded a $250 scholarship per academic year from Prairieland EDC. She plans to attend Briar Cliff University and is undecided in her major.
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Prairieland EDC 25th Anniversary Scholarship Winners Back L-R: Kaila Hamann (Pizza Ranch of Pipestone, Inc.), Jacob Edwards (Empire Plastics, Inc.), Ryan Parker (Marshall Truss Systems, Inc.), Taylor Ahlers (Precision Manufacturing & Machine, Inc.), Blake Ahlers (Precision Manufacturing & Machine, Inc.), Kortney Baumann (Hussong Manufacturing Co., Inc.) and Spencer Henle (Henle Speedy Print, Inc.)
Front L-R: Nicole Kor (Awards Plus of Southwest Minnesota, Inc.), Emily Schwendemann (NAPA Auto Parts & Truck Parts), RoseAnn Wendinger (NAPA Auto Parts & Truck Parts) and Mariah Grelson (Lyon Lodging dba Comfort Inn)

$250 Recipients:
Nicole Kor - Marshall, MN
Andrew Stermer – Montevideo, MN
Emily Nelsen – Willmar, MN
Rebecca Bloemendaal – Slayton, MN
Joshua Wyffels – Madelia, MN
Jacob Edwards – Brandon, SD
Alissa Ricke – Wood Lake, MN
Stephanie Hall – St. Cloud, MN
Adam Heck – Sioux Falls, SD
Spencer Henle- Marshall, MN
Leah Berre – Dell Rapids, SD
Mariah Grelson – Marshall, MN
Zane Fortune – Sauk Centre, MN
Betsy Voehl – Lakefield, MN
Jacob Bretzman – Lakefield, MN
Kortney Baumann – Lakefield, MN
Jaclyn Buysse – Minneota, MN
Kaila Hamann – Pipestone, MN
Blake Ahlers – Fulda, MN
Taylor Ahlers – Fulda, MN
Wyatt Smith – Litchfield, MN
Kelsi Ahrndt – Benson, MN
Christopher DiSanto – Kerkhoven, MN
RoseAnn Wendinger – Arlington, MN

Emily Schwendemann – Glencoe, MN


$2500 Recipient:
Ryan Parker – Marshall, MN
Business Represented:
Awards Plus of Southwest Minnesota, Inc. – Marshall, MN
Bill’s Foods, Inc – Montevideo, MN
Compassionate Care, Inc. – Willmar, MN
D.E.S. Water Conditioning of Murray County, Inc.–Slayton, MN
Dick Olson Motors, Inc. – Madelia, MN
Empire Plastics, Inc. – Sioux Falls, SD
Extreme Panel Technologies, Inc. – Cottonwood, MN
Funfactory Child Care, LLC – St. Cloud, MN
Goldsmith Heck Engineers, Inc. – Sioux Falls, SD
Henle Speedy Print, Inc. – Marshall, MN
High Performance Engineering, Inc – Sioux Falls, SD
Lyon Lodging, LLC dba Comfort Inn – Marshall, MN
Hussong Manufacturing Co., Inc. – Lakefield, MN
Hussong Manufacturing Co., Inc. – Lakefield, MN
Hussong Manufacturing Co., Inc. – Lakefield, MN
Hussong Manufacturing Co., Inc. – Lakefield, MN
Plainview Farms, Inc and Buysse, Inc. – Minneota, MN
Pizza Ranch of Pipestone, Inc. – Pipestone, MN
Precision Manufacturing & Machine, Inc – Fulda, MN
Precision Manufacturing & Machine, Inc – Fulda, MN
Rath Racing, Inc. – Hutchinson, MN
Running Supply, Inc. – Benson, MN
Rustad Bar Service, Inc. – Kerkhoven, MN
Star Group, LLC dba NAPA Auto Parts & Truck Parts -
Chaska, MN
Star Group, LLC dba NAPA Auto Parts & Truck Parts -
Chaska, MN

Business Represented:
Marshall Truss Systems, Inc. – Marshall, MN

Prairieland EDC Scholarship

The Prairieland EDC scholarship was created in 2001. The scholarship started as a way for Dr. Ralph W. Knapp, former Minnesota West Community and Technical College President, to demonstrate his dedication to education and to the region. The scholarship is available to students who attend one of the Minnesota West Community and Technical Colleges in Canby, Granite Falls, Jackson, Pipestone, and Worthington. In order to qualify for the scholarship, students must submit an application, transcript, and an essay on "The Importance of Small Business Growth in Rural America."

Prairieland EDC Scholarship Winners

2008 Scholarship Recipients from Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls Campus

L-R: Coral Bogan, Montevideo, MN, Steve Dusek (Prairieland EDC), Elizabeth Allen, Jackson, MN
and Danielle Moore, Jackson, MN