Rewriting the Rural Narrative

What if the story we’ve been told about rural America isn’t the whole story?

For decades, the narrative has been the same:

• small towns are shrinking

• young people are leaving

• rural communities are slowly fading away.

But what if that story is outdated?

Join us for an inspiring and eye-opening evening with rural sociologist Ben Winchester from the University of Minnesota Extension, who has spent more than 25 years researching and working alongside small towns across the Midwest.

Ben’s work focuses on what he calls “rewriting the rural narrative”—challenging outdated assumptions and uncovering the powerful trends shaping the future of rural communities. Ben brings a glass-half-full perspective backed by real research, data, and stories from towns just like ours. His work has been nationally recognized, including receiving the 2021 Rural Renewal Research Prize from Oklahoma State University.