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Energize! conference to Explore Innovative Rural Communities
BROOKINGS, S.D. – SDSU Extension and the community of Wessington Springs will host the 2023 Energize! Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference May 31-June 1.
The annual event is designed to energize South Dakota’s rural communities by inviting them to share success stories and ideas with community members and leaders from across the state. This year’s keynote speaker will lead two breakout sessions, with other breakouts led by a diverse set of rural South Dakotans. Breakout speakers will share successes in four categories: arts and culture, youth engagement, fundraising and housing.
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“This event will offer networking for grassroots community leaders, resources and many ideas for rural communities and entrepreneurs,” said Kari O’Neill, SDSU Extension Community Vitality Program Manager.
Danna Larson, an Iowa-based entrepreneur and consultant, is this year’s keynote speaker. She is founder and host of the Rural Revival podcast, which showcases rural communities and the people who are bringing them back to life.
The program is a collaborative effort between community leaders in Wessington Springs and the SDSU Extension Community Vitality Team. Loree Gaikowski, board member of the Wessington Springs Area Development Corporation, is excited to bring the conference to her region.
“We are fortunate to have several unique businesses, lodging opportunities and tourist destinations in Wessington Springs. People here are ready to take on the challenge of hosting a large conference in a small community,” she said.
This marks the fifth year for the Energize! conference in South Dakota, with previous programs hosted in DeSmet, Lemmon, Milbank and Fort Pierre. Bringing community leaders and business owners together proved to be powerful at those events as groups learned from each other. Like the creative venues used for conference locations, the conference offers creative possibilities for rural areas.
Registration is $115 per person through May 22. On-site registration is subject to availability for $150. Learn more and register online at extension.sdstate.edu/events. ■
