The Growing Small Towns Show

S5:E16 - What Makes Kids Love Their Small Towns with Carter Undem

This is a first on the podcast and a great ending to the first part of Season 5 (we’ll be back in September with more episodes!) One of Rebecca’s children joined us for the funnest episode ever about small towns through the eyes of a kid: what he loves, what he’d like to see, and the frustrations he experiences as a kid in a small town. About Carter: Carter is Rebecca’s 13-year-old son, the middle child, and a small-town connoisseur and font of wisdom about how to connect with and make small towns great places for kids. In this episode, we cover: What Carter loves about his small town What he’d like to see in his small town How to connect with kids and involve them in small towns Carter’s Shout-Outs: The Butcher Shop, Inc.: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083102392378 The Bakery Shoppe - Oakes: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088962675005 Hearthside Vineyard and Winery: https://www.facebook.com/HeaOakesrthsideWinery Sweets n’ Stories: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063629827416 Feel Good Foods: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095018709672 Wild Wolff: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086460336567 Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce: https://www.facebook.com/oakeschamber Irrigation Days FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/970957665097391 MacDaddy’s Food Vendor: https://www.facebook.com/PhillyandMaceatery Small-Town Shout-Out! We're celebrating the combined communities of Chamberlain and Oacoma. They have a trail system, and they’re building their very first bike-optimized trail! Sometimes, trail systems with options for both walking *and* biking aren’t prioritized, so major snaps to these communities for getting this done! A Note on Seasons: Our new format means that we’ll be taking a break for summer and picking back up in September. Don’t worry, we’ll still have plenty of content to share and we can’t wait to hit the ground running this fall. Follow us on Instagram (@growingsmalltowns) and Facebook (facebook.com/growingsmalltowns)  New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that.  If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

S5:E15 - Getting and Keeping Rural Lawyers with Hannah Haksgaard

This episode is about the rural lawyer shortage, why it’s happening, why it matters, and what we can do about it. This is a new-to-us topic, and we’re so excited to share it with you because it’s way more important and impactful than we realized. Lawyers have a crucial place in our small communities, from providing essential government services like prosecution to supporting small businesses and helping them thrive. Our guest, Hannah, is a law professor and author who took a deep dive into this issue, and we’re so glad she did. We learned a lot, and we think you will, too! About Hannah: Hannah Haksgaard is a Professor at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, where she teaches and writes in the areas of property law, family law, and the rural practice of law. Hannah’s new book, The Rural Lawyer: How to Incentivize Rural Law Practice and Help Small Communities Thrive, is available on Amazon or through your favorite local bookseller. In this episode, we cover: Why do we have a rural lawyer shortage? Why that shortage matters How can we address it? Resources Mentioned:  Hannah’s Book: https://a.co/d/1iJyV9j Small-Town Shout-Out! This week’s shout-out is to the small town of Burke, SD. We love hearing what different people love about their small towns, and Burke sounds like a fantastic place to live. Meredith loves the Get Fit with Jenny classes, Kelsey’s all about the Farmer’s Market and the town’s gorgeous park space, and Cheyenne appreciates that the town is about love and legacy built on a foundation for the future. Wahoo, Burke, for being amazing in so many different ways! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that.  If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

S5:E14 - How to Engage Youth in Small Towns with Karen Pifher

We focus a lot on belonging here at Growing Small Towns, and one of the most important groups (that sometimes gets neglected by traditional community development) is youth. Kids need to feel at home and welcome in our small towns, too, and when our young people are engaged, active, and have good places to hang out with their friends, the effect is like a shockwave in the best way. Today’s episode is with the amazing Karen Pifher, who is helping communities support their youth in very real, material ways.  And with lots of food, because apparently that’s key for kid hangouts.  About Karen: Karen Pifher is a powerhouse of heart, hustle, and humor, with a Master’s in Community Development, a Business Strategy Certificate from Harvard, and as a member of the international "Board of Experts" (what's that- check it out online and reach out with questions). As the founder of Creating Community Consulting, Karen has become a go-to force for turning bold ideas into thriving, people-centered projects. She knows firsthand what it’s like to face hardship — as a teen mother, Karen learned resilience, grit, and the power of community early on. Today, she channels that experience into her mission to create stronger, more connected places where everyone belongs. Her secret weapon? A wicked sense of humor, a bias for action, and the ability to make strategy feel exciting — even fun! Outside of her work, Karen is a devoted wife, mom, and outdoor enthusiast, happiest when she’s paddling a river, hiking through the woods, or wrangling life’s chaos with laughter and love. Creating Community Consulting isn’t just a business; it’s the evolution of Karen’s lifelong passion for community, innovation, and change — built on grit, late nights, and a lot of coffee. She’s living proof that small-town roots and big dreams can shake up the world, one project (and one punchline) at a time. In this episode, we cover: Why Karen decided to get involved in making communities better places for youth The whole amazing story behind CornerStone Community & Youth Center How Karen and her organization help other small towns become great places for kids Resources Mentioned and Projects They Serve: Creating Community Consulting and AI Grant Writer tool: https://www.creatingcommunityconsulting.com/ CornerStone Community & Youth Center: https://www.cornerstonefrazee.org/ Wannigan Park: https://wanniganpark.com/ Clay County Family Resource Center: https://claycountyfrc.com/ Economic Development in Frazee Small-Town Shout-Out! This one is from our friend Jerome from Platte, South Dakota, and we’re shouting out two things that he shared with us. The first is the community’s multi-church youth group: the community recognized the benefit of having one large group of kids coming together rather than a bunch of little ones, and we love this (and the kids do too!) The second is the restored Lyric Theater. It’s a beautiful building that was in rough shape, which was purchased by an incredibly generous individual who restored it and brought it back to life, proving that when people care, big things happen. A big high-five to Platte for youth, collaboration, and restoration! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that.  If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

S5:E13 - The Fight for Public Education with Erin Oban

When we think of politics, I think a lot of us feel intimidated or like there isn’t room for us in the process–we’re not “political,” or we don’t have time, or we’re not the right kind of person. Today’s guest shows that being an unlikely politician may actually be the best thing, and why we need more real people in politics (yes, that means you!) About Erin: Erin Oban is a lifelong North Dakotan and proud, Class B kid, raised in a farm family in Ray, ND. Her professional career has included experience as a middle school math teacher, in nonprofit management and educational leadership, and in politics and public service. In 2014 and again in 2018, Erin was elected to represent central Bismarck’s District 35 in the State Senate. In 2022, she received an appointment from President Biden to serve as North Dakota’s state director of USDA Rural Development, a federal agency responsible for making financing and technical assistance accessible to rural and Tribal communities across the country. When not engaging in issues of importance and finding ways to make an impact, big or small, in her community, Erin enjoys a cold beer on the patio with friends, a cup of coffee with a stranger, live music and comedy, traveling, and being comfy at home in Bismarck with her husband, Chad, and their son and favorite human, Evin. In this episode, we cover: How Erin became involved in the legislative world (kind of by accident!) Why voucher schemes and school choice don't help our small towns How every single one of us has something we can offer and something we can do about the things we care about Resources Mentioned: https://www.ndforpublicschools.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ND4PublicSchools Think Again by Adam Grant Small-Town Shout-Out! Wahoo to the unincorporated community of Guelph, ND (just a stone’s throw from Oakes) for showing that no town is too small to do big, cool things when people care. Two cool things we’re highlighting: Off the "Sheulph" Guelph purchased the old school building, where they host markets throughout the year and rent out the historic wood gym for events, and a young couple transformed the old train depot into a beautiful Airbnb, giving visitors a reason to come and stay. Good job, Guelph!! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that.  If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

S5:E12 - Making Room for New People with Meredith McMurray

Meredith is easily one of the most interesting and unusual people we’ve ever had on the podcast, and her story is a testament to just how much small-town living appeals to all kinds of people, even people that you may not expect. This episode is all about how Meredith–a Marin County, California native–found herself in rural South Dakota, and what we can do to make our small towns more welcoming for all different kinds of people who want to make their lives here.  About Meredith: Meredith McMurray was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. She was home-schooled for all but one of her twelve grade school years. Then, in 2006, she enlisted into the US Marine Corps at age 18 and served four years active duty, deploying twice during that time. After an Honorable Discharge, Meredith began an exploration into the world of health and healing practices such as yoga, neuromuscular therapy, meditation, self-inquiry, and performing arts! She began learning Aerial Acrobatics in 2012, at first as a hobby. By 2016, Meredith began making a living off of teaching and performing Aerial Acrobatics. In May 2019, Meredith was presented with an opportunity to take over ownership of Aerial Arts Fairfax (IG account no longer managed), a local beloved Aerial Academy in Fairfax, CA. The offer was for Meredith to purchase the business and facilitate over 200 actively enrolled students to continue their training—or watch it close and cease to exist due to the original founder opting to retire earlier in 2019. Out of pure love for the art form (and a lack of awareness of what was to come), Meredith took a risk and invested five figures of borrowed money into purchasing the business. Aerial Arts Fairfax had eight great months under Meredith's leadership, and then March 2020 came along... Obliterated by the statewide lockdowns and dysfunctional social practices implemented by the majority in the San Francisco Bay Area, Meredith consciously chose to no longer serve that community with her business nor her physical presence. Meredith had heard former Governor Kristi Noem say, "All South Dakotans are Essential." So, after sixteen total months of fighting to regain any sense of meaning or purpose in California, Meredith packed her Prius and drove to South Dakota with no plan. Once she arrived, Meredith was able to shake hands with Gov. Kristi Noem and thank her for standing up for the people of South Dakota and their occupations. Then, Meredith was able to work a seasonal job in South Dakota and earn enough to pay herself back from the five-figure financial wound created by the State of California. After that, Meredith moved across state lines four times before eventually returning back to South Dakota, where she has been living for the last 2.5 years. By no means is Meredith walking off into the sunset... She continues to wake up every morning wondering how she can best serve the community, make real friends, and express important messages in whatever form. Please enjoy the speech Meredith recently gave at the Black Hills Aerial Cup: https://youtu.be/Y15XccuXMFw?si=IGgYzsz8jtsfQqpA In this episode, we cover: How Meredith went from Marin County, CA to small-town South Dakota What she loves about small towns What she’d love for her own small-town experience Resources Mentioned: Freedom Fest: https://freedomfest.com/ Speech for anyone who's ever felt "non-essential”: https://youtu.be/Y15XccuXMFw?si=IGgYzsz8jtsfQqpA Meredith’s website: www.DanglingDance.com Get in touch: DanglingDance@gmail.com Small-Town Shout-Out! Big high fives to Ellendale, our county seat! A major economic development project—Applied Digital—is happening right there, and the revenue it brings is game-changing. But we’re especially cheering for Ellendale because growth like this brings big challenges, too. Just because something big is happening doesn’t mean anything was ever wrong before. We see you, we support you, and we’re in it with you. New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that.  If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!