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Energize!
The Energize! Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference is designed to empower South Dakota’s rural communities by inviting them to network with community leaders from across the state to share success stories, get new ideas and take action to improve their own communities.
SDSU Extension hosts successful Energize conference in Platte
June 03, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension hosted a successful Energize conference in Platte with 150 attendees.
Director Karla Trautman retires after 37 years with SDSU Extension
May 27, 2025
For Karla Trautman, it has always been about the people. As she prepares to retire after 37 years with SDSU Extension, Trautman said that focus on people has remained constant.
Think Better, Question Smarter: Why Critical Thinking Matters
Critical thinking is one of the most valuable skills you can have. It helps you pause, reflect, ask the right questions, and make choices you can stand behind.
Truly Authentic Leaders Build Community
Authentic people build successful communities. If community leaders practice and share the habits that foster authenticity, positive change can and will happen.
Watertown entrepreneur wins SDSU Extension business plan contest
March 24, 2025
A Watertown woman won a South Dakota State University Extension Community Vitality business plan contest with her compelling plan for a cancer support group.
Rural Communities: Addressing Declining Population by Developing Entrepreneurial Communities
As the population decreases, schools close. Businesses close. Services become less and less. Research shows that people want to live in rural areas but don’t believe the opportunities are there. If communities develop a system to connect people to opportunities, rural communities can stabilize their population, keep their schools, businesses and services, and maybe even increase them.
ND author, podcast host to keynote SDSU Extension Energize conference
March 07, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension Community Vitality is pleased to announce North Dakota businesswoman and rural advocate Rebecca Undem as the 2025 Energize conference keynote speaker.
A Strategic Community-Based Survey of Water Resource Management in South Dakota
Understanding how residents value water is critical for effective resource management, and your insights can help us better understand community values and inform future strategies for sustainable water management across the state.
Leadership for Today - Effective Group Communication
Within a given day, human beings rely on the ability to communicate as a means of transferring information. Whether we speak, listen, write notes or letters, email, or text message, the process of communicating thoughts, ideas, and feelings is something we find to be important but typically give little thought to.