Mapping stories: Our rural Minnesota youth
From Lancaster to Lanesboro, and from Luverne to Grand Marais, Minnesota’s rural youth have described their lives and choices. Click on a red-shaded county for links to their stories.
Rural Minnesota
MinnPost is visiting Minnesota’s rural youth — both literally and virtually — to explore their lives, the choices they face, and how their current choices might shape Greater Minnesota in the years to come. Rural Minnesota features both traditional stories and the ongoing voices of young people throughout the state via the MinnPost site as well as Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. Sharon Schmickle, Jeff Severns Guntzel, Steve Date and Gregg Aamot have contributed to this project.
This project is made possible by a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation.
Work in Haiti brings young Lancaster woman’s life into focus
Despite sickness and the Haiti earthquake, “I don’t think I ever experienced so much joy as when I was there,” said Lacey Hewitt.
Olson brothers: Making music and connections in the north woods
Andy and Spencer Olson of Emily, Minn., have been playing music professionally for over five years. Now they’re starting a recording company.
Enterprising Johnson brothers got an early start in logging on North Shore
Skyler and Colee Johnson, along with their younger brother, Clay, have, found a way to carve careers and a business out of the north woods.
For wind-turbine project manager, passion for work pays off
“I want to learn the ins and outs of every single thing I deal with,” says 24-year-old Jordan Bielefeld of Luverne, Minn.
Young actors perform — and learn broader theater skills — in Lanesboro
Today’s video features five young people, all in their early- to mid-20s, during the recent run of “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Commonweal Theatre.
Julie Tesch: Many job opportunities exist in ag sector
She works with high-school agriculture teachers, students and others interested in agriculture, food and natural-resource education programs.
From desk job to Winona’s Herbal Turtle Farms
Bryan Crigler and Kate Foerster operate a 220-acre CSA operation, providing about 25 families with a wide variety of produce.
Vital and invisible: Minnesota’s migrant workers and their children
Cally Ingebritson supervises recruiters who find new migrant families and enroll their children into the Migrant Head Start program.
Young Northfield trio expecting nonfarm careers
Jordan Tyler, Miles Tyler and Matthew Ruon talk about jobs, education, the economy and life in rural areas and small towns.
Back to Madelia: A man, a plan, a family farm
With a degree from the U, Dan Roberts has returned home at a time when the economy and trends in agriculture are squeezing many young people off the land.
Racial and ethnic tensions in rural Minnesota: Your stories
How are those tensions experienced by young people? If you are under 25, we’d like to hear from you.
Who are the people in power in rural Minnesota? Do they understand the needs of young people?
How would you describe the leaders in your community? If you are under 25, we want to hear from you.
Your rural community: What you love and what you don’t
What do you love about your community? What does it need? What would you miss? What would you be glad to leave behind? Tell us about your community.
Kids may leave, but rural Minnesota benefits from ‘brain gain’ among 30- and 40-somethings
“We’re losing 18-year-olds with no experience and life skills, but in return we’re getting educated people with job skills and networks,” says U of M researcher Ben Winchester.Jeff Severns Guntzel: Your rural community: What you love and wha
Working in rural Minnesota: Looking for stories from people under 25
Where do you work? What do you do? What is the hardest part about your job? What is your dream job? Can you do it where you live now? No detail is too small.
From FFA to the U’s ag ed and beyond
Liz Rabbe and Dan Helvig are both products of FFA leadership, and it shows in the way they speak about education, agriculture, rural life and their futures.
Morris high-schoolers teach youngsters about agriculture
In this video, Kaitlin Van Horn and Beth Holland take two children through FFA “mini-barns” at the Stevens County Fair — and talk about the economy and their career prospects.
Young dairy farmer is an advocate for small-town and rural life
In this video Elizabeth Olson of Hutchinson, Minn., takes her Holstein through the twice-daily ritual of milking at the State Fair, and talks about the dairy industry, her education and her future.Max About Town: A Week of State Fair Infogra