Initiative for Rural Vitality
2022 Fallby Katie Weaver
who is the MSU Extension Community Development Associate Specialist
Efforts to help rural Montanans gain leadership skills and envision positive futures for their communities recently got a boost. Through a generous gift from Northwest Farm Credit Services, MSU Extension is expanding its work by promoting a more positive rural narrative, training more local leaders, and supporting rural community vitality across Montana. The new Initiative for Rural Vitality directly supports Reimagining Rural and Big Sky, Big Leadership, two MSU Extension programs focused on building individuals’ capacity to work together to create more vibrant futures for communities.
Each fall, Reimagining Rural meets three times, bringing together groups of local leaders in-person in communities to connect virtually with other communities across the state to hear new ideas from rural-positive speakers. Each local gathering has the opportunity to discuss those new ideas and decide what might work in their community. Participating communities receive help organizing and running the sessions from MSU Extension and have received small grants in the past to implement a community project inspired by the event, including beautification, new resident welcoming events, and downtown planning efforts, among many others.
Big Sky, Big Leadership is a local leadership program developing more empowered and engaged community leaders working for positive change in their community. Research has shown that communities that invest in leadership are more successful and resilient. These communities benefit from numerous positive outcomes such as more effective meetings, increased public involvement, new business starts, and the ability to join together to solve complex community challenges. Each Big Sky, Big Leadership program is developed and facilitated locally by MSU Extension faculty and a local steering committee. Participants learn more about the place they live and current issues impacting it, develop a strong network of peers and resources, and hone leadership skills such as problem-solving, working effectively in groups, and dealing with conflict. The four- to nine-month program is designed for adults who want to take on a more active role in their community.
Interested individuals or communities can learn about local leadership opportunities and join Reimagining Rural by contacting their local MSU Extension office or communityvitality@montana.edu. Reimagining Rural has been active in over 47 communities statewide and Big Sky, Big Leadership is currently offered in seven counties – Broadwater, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Park, Powder River, Rosebud, and Wheatland – and is slated to launch in Blaine, Hill, and Pondera Counties in 2023.