ABOUT sHONA

 Shona Langseth grew up in Southeast Minnesota, with early roots in Winona, where she developed a strong connection to the land and rural communities. That connection shaped both her education and career, as she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology Conservation and Management from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, which helped cut her teeth in field research. She worked for several years in a Marine Benthic Laboratory participating in SCUBA research of kelp forests and taxonomically identifying benthic invertebrates that make up the ocean floor.

After college, Shona moved back to the Midwest to pursue a career in agriculture as her understanding of ecological systems grew to recognize the potential of improved agricultural practices for wildlife populations, water quality, sequestering greenhouse gasses and economically revitalizing our rural communities. Shona then worked regional farms for 5 years. Those experiences gave her a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing family farms and rural communities today. 

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Over the past decade, Shona has built her professional life around supporting agriculture and natural resources. Through her work with agricultural nonprofits, the Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District, and her service on the Legislative - Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, she has worked alongside farmers and local partners to promote soil health, protect water quality, and advance practical, science-based solutions that strengthen both the land and the people who depend on it. 

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Shona and her archeologist husband Jared have made their home in Preston, where Jared volunteers with the Preston Fire Department, and together they are raising their son, Adak. Like many families in Fillmore County, they have put down roots here and are invested in the community's future.