’Tis the Season for Community

In this episode of The Hot Dish, hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp announce the 2025 Rural Champion Awards before highlighting the Christmas Spirit of Kellie Smith, a small-town entrepreneur from Perham, Minnesota. Kellie shares her inspiring story of creating a community space for those in need during the holiday season, emphasizing the importance of leadership and community support in rural areas. The conversation also touches on the significance of traditions and the spirit of giving in small towns.

Join us on The Hot Dish every week, where we serve up hearty conversations that resonate with every corner of the country. The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project, making sure the voices of the rest of us are heard in Washington. To learn more, visit https://onecountryproject.org or find us at https://onecountryproject.substack.com/. 

• (00:00) - Celebrating Rural Champions
• (01:18) - Introducing Community Hero Kelly Smith
• (03:25) - The Heart of Perham: A Small Town's Spirit
• (04:19) - Creating a Community Giving Tree
• (07:28) - Community Response and Support
• (09:38) - Breaking Barriers: Accessing Help
• (12:48) - Unity in Diversity: Bridging Divides
• (14:22) - Inspiring Neighboring Towns
• (15:39) - Leadership in Rural Development
• (16:33) - Encouraging Community Involvement
• (19:16) - Christmas Traditions and Family Memories
• (28:25) - Creating Lasting Memories Over Material Gifts