Ekalaka selected to participate in statewide 'Reimagine Rural' program

Ekalaka has been selected to participate in the fourth annual Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering planned for January 29, February 12 and February 26, 2024 at Carter County Museum. Everyone is welcome to this free, community-wide event to hear fresh, new ideas for rural community vitality to inspire and motivate community members to imagine a brighter future for their town.

The Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering includes three sessions, broadcast via Zoom to groups of local participants gathered in-person in small towns across the state. Immediately following the speakers, local groups each have a facilitated conversation about how the new ideas might work in their community.

Communities that applied and were accepted to the program this year include: Big Timber, Boulder, Choteau, Custer County, Ekalaka, Ennis, Forsyth, Lima/Dell, Glacier County, West Yellowstone and Winnett. In total, 53 communities have participated in Reimagining Rural since its inception in 2020.

Communities participate in Reimagining Rural to bring their community members together to get inspired and work together for a bright future. Lauren Dillon of Big Timber said that they are "excited to continue [local conversations] under the structure of this program – both to have the dedicated time together and for the inspiration and ideas from the themes of the three sessions." Ekalaka participated in the program previously. Local leader Sabre Moore said in her application this year that "We are ready to come back and visit with other communities across Montana as it always helps galvanize our own community to share in this forum with others!" Custer County Extension Agent Jackie Beardsley said in her application "Miles City has many fun things happening, and creative leaders working to make it a wonderful place to live. I think Reimagining Rural could be the glue to pull them all together."

Each night of the program features a speaker as well as a story of success from a small town. Tara Mastel of Montana State University Extension will kick off the first night with some key data that gives context to some of the changes seen in our small towns including Montana's own research on the rural "brain gain." The second night features small-town experts Becky McCray and Deb Brown back by popular demand. McCray and Brown will share their "Idea Friendly Method" for getting things done in small towns without all the typical red tape. The final session will feature Rebecca Undem who is a passionate "dreamer" trying new things in rural, small town North Dakota.  She is a professional speaker and hosts a podcast called "Growing Small Towns."  

Reimagining Rural is made possible through support from MSU Extension, the Montana Community Foundation, AgWest Farm Credit, Montana Department of Commerce and local hosts in each community.

The sessions are set for January 29, February 12 and February 26. Each session will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Carter County Museum (306 N. Main Street Ekalaka, MT 59324. There will be light snacks and refreshments for attendees. Community members interested in joining this great statewide discussion can participate by contacting Sabre Moore at smoore@cartercountymuseum.org.

For more information visit https://msuextension.org/communitydevelopment/reimagine-rural.html or contact Tara Mastel at MSU Extension at tara.mastel@montana.edu.