My Experience with Re-Imagining Rural
 | Author:
Victor Sample
Vic Sample: MT43 News Treasurer |
My Experience with Re-Imagining Rural Victor Sample Townsend has always been considered a rural community. However, Townsend in the 1960s was a much different community than it is in the 2020s. All over America, rural community lifestyles have been changing. Many of the communities are now being overshadowed by larger neighboring urban areas; there has been so much movement of people relocating from large urban areas to rural areas; the internet has changed much of how the world lives including rural communities in Montana.
In 2020 (the year of covid) the MSU Extension Office organized a state-wide webinar series called Re-Imagining Rural. Locally, the 3 part webinar was hosted by Nichole Brown (until she was exposed to covid) and myself (filling in for Nichole).
Approximately 20 people attended the 3 series event.
The focus of the event was on how rural communities are evolving and what that means for the future of rural communities across Montana. Guest speakers included a professor from the University of Montana and community activists from rural communities that have been meeting the challenge of changes to our rural communities.
The 3 part webinars were fully interactive with attendees able to ask questions and attendees were actively involved in the entire process. It was not a sit-and-watch type webinar. At the end of each session, the attendees were asked to collaborate on answering various questions about their communities with the local webinar host facilitating the collaboration.
Everyone participating in the event was surprised by the exploration of how our rural lifestyles are changing and how we can start to take control of how the changes are shaping our communities.
I felt that the webinars were very informative and worthwhile.
Now, the Montana State University Extension Program has chosen Townsend to be the site of the 2023 Re-Imaging Rural program. The program will be a full-day event on June 13.
In this issue of the MT43 News, there is an announcement of the program including a link to register for the event.
From Allison Kosto, Broadwater County Extension Agent:
“The MSU Extension Re-Imagine Rural program is hosting an in-person event that is taking place at the Watson Event Center on June 13th. I think it's really cool that they choose Townsend as their location! I’ve been helping with a few of the details. The agenda is posted on the website and the website to register is now open. The cost is $50. The conference will discuss the changing rural Montana dynamics and highlight several examples of successes in rural communities. Hope to see many of you there!”
