Experiencing Rural by Choice
By Sarah Schake
The ‘Rural by Choice’ movement began in Otter Tail County, MN in 2021 when we released a video series by the same catchy name with Cory Hepola and Kvidt Creative. After 12 episodes, local and national press, a few dedicated partners, and a regional Emmy Award in 2023, Rural by Choice has become so much more than a video series.
What is Rural by Choice?
Rural By Choice is a lifestyle and a movement based on the fact that people relocate to rural places in search of a simpler pace of life. Otter Tail County, MN is an ideal area to live and work. With over 1,000 lakes, plenty of career choices, great schools, and supportive communities, you can live your best life here.
Exposing Students to Rural Opportunities
To understand the full story of what Rural by Choice means, you kind of have to live it. That’s why we’ve spent the last year giving University of Minnesota student athletes the opportunity to experience what living, working, and playing in Otter Tail County, MN could be like after they graduate. Otter Tail Lakes Country is a proud sponsor of Gopher Athletics. Because of this partnership, we invited several student athletes to come up for a visit. We took them fishing and hiking and golfing. We took them out to eat and sipped coffee with a few locals. They got to experience that simpler pace of life and the welcoming atmosphere of our smaller communities.
Visiting a rural community for the first time, football running back Darius Taylor said, “I’d definitely recommend people come up and experience this area. I’ve never been in this type of area in my life. I’ve always lived in the city, so it’s a great place to be.”
Want to experience Rural by Choice for yourself?
Here are a few ideas to learn more about the lifestyle:
- Plan a visit and explore the locals’ favorite spots.
- Watch the Emmy-Award-winning Rural by Choice video series on our Otter Tail Lakes Country YouTube channel.
- Read the perspectives of local residents from different walks of life in our Rural by Choice stories.
