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Mother with two young children shopping at a holiday craft fair.

Your Town Matters! Shop Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Shopping local allows you to make a difference in your hometown. Locally owned businesses reinvest a large share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community.

Two woman reviewing a building plan in a community workshop.

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.

Atty Eastman, Jonathan Burleson and Joshua Burleson collecting glasses at an eye clinic for the South Dakota 4-H "20/20 Vision" community service project.

South Dakota 4-H Members Donate Over 3,000 Eyeglasses Through Statewide Service Project

January 27, 2022

The eyeglasses collected through the project were primarily donated to the South Dakota Lions Foundation, which collects thousands of eyeglasses annually for volunteer missions.

A group of attendees at the Small Business Basics course at Volga, South Dakota.

Small Business Basics

The Small Business Basics program covers an extensive list of topics, including writing or updating business plans, tax and licensing, employee relations, pricing and marketing, customer service, social media, and aspects of financing.

A group of young workers sitting at a table putting their hands together.

Advantages Of Rural Community Living

At a Stronger Economies Together session held in Midland, SD in March, I asked the question “how many of you live here because of the quality of life?” Nearly everyone in the room raised a hand. So what is it about the quality of life that we so enjoy? Is it that we don’t have to deal with the hustle and bustle of traffic in the city? Is it the peace and quiet?

Two young children walking in a pasture.

Why Do Young People Leave Our Rural Communities?

It’s no secret that young people are leaving our rural communities in South Dakota. If you read the newspapers or watch the news on television, you also know this isn’t a challenge that only South Dakota communities are facing; it is happening across the nation.

2021 Energize! Conference attendees gathered outside a brick building.

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.

A young girl with a snail-shaped watering can.

Ages & Stages in the Garden: Ages 6-8

A garden can be used to teach many concepts to a board range of ages. When working with early elementary youth you will want to consider characteristics of their development when planning lessons and activities.

Young entrepreneur meeting with community members.

Connections: An Overlooked Factor in Startup Success

If you are considering starting a business, your community network will be one of your most-important tools. Learn some expert tips for connecting your business with your community today.

A young, freckled girl eating small, red tomatoes inside a greenhouse.

Agritourism

When a producer has decided to sell a product directly from the farm, entertainment or tourism-based activities could be incorporated to create larger appeal. Agritourism could add value to the farm visit though education, entertainment, outdoor recreation, dining, relaxation or other avenues, potentially drawing more customers in.