The Energize! conference is hosted annually and focuses on bringing community leaders and business owners together to share their experiences and knowledge on a variety of topics proved to be powerful as groups learned from each other. Energize! utilizes local businesses as hosts for breakout sessions, helping business owners share their stories, while getting conference attendees into the community to support local businesses.
Each year, the conference alternates between east and west river, taking place in communities of less than 5,000 people to showcase how even the most rural areas can successfully host a conference.
If you think your community could host a future conference or would like to learn more about Energize!, contact Peggy Schlechter, Kara Harders, Kellie Kolb.
Conference History
Population: 1,249
Dates: May 6-7, 2025
Attendance: 150
Economic Impact: $67,163
Preconference Session: "So, I Serve on/Work for a Nonprofit Board" led by Julie Johnson
Keynote Speaker: Rebecca Undem, founder of Growing Small Towns
Evening Event: Get Down and Derby (Kentucky Derby)
Top-rated Sessions: RedCan Graffiti Jam, Farm life Creamery and Mom, Dad, I'm a Thespian
Breakout Session Tracks:
- Arts and Culture in your Community
- Engaging Community Members
- Funding Community Projects
- Rural Tourism
Highlights:
- Highest Attended Conference
- 12 Local businesses hosted breakout Sessions
Participant Quotes:
- “I appreciated hearing from Rebecca and the opportunities she created in her hometown. I have already started a conversation with another community about the possibility of a bus tour and what that might look like!”
- “I am going to get sponsors for our welcome to town sign. I am going to get more people to come to ribbon cutting ceremonies. I am going to get our current chamber director to stay.”
- “Each session had valuable info so it's hard to pick out the most useful. But, I think for us the reinforcement of how to efficiently run a meeting and keeping volunteers interested in continuing to help was very valuable.”
Population: 3,608
Dates: May 22-23, 2024
Attendance: 131
Economic Impact: $37,717
Preconference Session: “Yes! There are Legal Issues in Economic Development” led by Julie Johnson
Keynote Speaker: Michael Perry, Author
Evening Event: Downtown Dine & Dance
Top-rated Sessions: Writing from the Middle of Nowhere
Breakout Session Tracks:
- Arts and Culture in your Community
- Attracting / Retaining Residents
- Funding Community Projects
- Meeting Community Needs
Highlights:
- 75% of attendees stayed in Hot Springs
- Average travel distance was 436 miles
Attendee Quotes:
- "There are absolutely resources available to our local economic development group."
- "When you feel like there's a lot of challenges and you know there are other communities facing the same challenges, we're not alone."
- “This conference is so unique, and I hope you continue to host it in the same way! I really enjoy the breakout sessions in businesses and the keynote speaker at the beginning of the conference. I also thought the local food and entertainment was great! Thank you for putting on such a fun and informative event!”
Population: 759
Dates: May 31-June 1, 2023
Attendance: 119
Economic Impact: $20,222
Keynote Speaker: Danna Larson, Rural Revival
Evening Event: A night in Wessington Springs
Top-rated Session: Innovative Ways to Fund Community Projects
Breakout Session Tracks:
- Arts and Culture in Your Community
- Youth Engagement
- Funding Community Projects
- Creative Community Growth
Highlights:
- Smallest population community to host Energize!
- 100% of attendees found the Keynote speaker valuable
Attendee Quotes:
- "Example of Wessington Springs as a thriving, pleasant community despite small population and limited resources. I want to return!"
- "Learned about self-publishing - I get asked about this"
Population: 2,158
Dates: May 11-12, 2022
Attendance: 149
Economic Impact: $31,945
Keynote Speaker: Andrew McCrea, Rural Town Renewal
Evening Event: Fun! Fort Pierre Style!
Top-rated Session: Building the Capacity for Change
Breakout Session Tracks:
- Arts and Culture in Your Community
- Marketing for Your Community or Organization
- Funding Community Projects
- New Life for Old Buildings
Highlights:
- Evening entertainment was a local family band
- 14 different local businesses hosted sessions
Attendee Quotes:
- “It snowballs so much. It creates positive momentum. We cannot wait to come back every year.”
- “I love that this conference is so specific and focused on small towns. We can connect with the communities that are truly the heart and majority of South Dakota.”
- “When you feel like there’s a lot of challenges and you know there are other communities facing the same challenges, we’re not alone.”
Population: 3,474
Dates: August 11-12, 2021
Attendance: 91
Economic Impact: $21,911
Keynote Speaker: Amanda Brinkman, Small Business Revolution
Breakout Session Tracks:
- Uptown Sucsess
- Community Engagement
- Funding Community Projects
- Supporting local Businesses
Highlights:
- First Energize! after COVID
Attendee Quotes:
- "I learned more about project financing, sucsess stories to show our community, and what is possible"
- " I want to implement ideas I learned about employment and housing issues."
- "Networking was great! Especially after so many years of COVID Zooms."
Population: 1,160
Dates: April 31-May 1, 2019
Attendance: 123
Economic Impact: $35,907
Keynote Speaker: Brent Comstock, Bcom Solutions
Evening Event: Lemmon Placemakers and Eclectic Wreck
Top-rated Session: Spread the Tunes to Raise Community Funds
Breakout Session Tracks:
- Engaging the Next Generation
- Attracting / Retaining Residents
- Funding Community Projects
- Supporting Community Business
Highlights:
- Attended by people from SD, ND, MN, MI, NE, and KS
- 95% of attendees said they would recommend Energize! to others
Attendee Quotes:
- "I think the most useful information was connecting with all the individuals from around the state and seeing what's worked for them in their towns."
- "This is my favorite conference to attend because of its casual and fun atmosphere. Going from business to business instead of sitting in a conference room for two days makes it more fun and feels like people actually get to meet more people by not knowing everyone in every session."
- "I have always liked my small community, but there is a stereotype that hangs over small-town life. I plan on implementing a state of mind that small towns aren't sleepy and boring!"
Population: 1,052
Dates: May 8-9, 2018
Attendance: 110
Economic Impact: $14,409
Keynote Speaker: Sarah Calhoun, Red Ants Pants
Evening Event: Musical production by the De Smet drama Department
Top-rated Session: Modern Day Pioneering
Breakout Session Tracks:
- Engaging Community Members
- Agritourism and Value-Added Agriculture
- Funding Community Projects
- Entrepreneurial Experiences
Highlights:
- First Energize!
Attendee Quotes:
- "This is such a great conference to have in SD!"
- "There were almost too many choices for breakout sessions! I didn’t know what to choose!!"
- "We left feeling so Energized! Hoping for Energize 2019!"
