Rural Voice: How to keep rural kids rural

Kerri Miller is on the road again for her Rural Voice town hall series — a project that highlights the joys and challenges of living in rural Minnesota.

Coming up at 9 a.m. Thursday, hear a discussion Miller moderated at Rapids Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Minn., on Sept. 21, with parents, teachers and community leaders about what can be done to retain young talent in rural communities.

Grounding the conversation was a new study from the Center for Rural Policy and Development, which looks at high school and college students' career paths. The part of the report that focused on northwest Minnesota found career and technical education in rural areas is crucial for retaining local talent. Educators in Grand Rapids agreed that both high schools and local colleges are doing more to inform students about post-secondary options in their own backyard.

But there are challenges for young people who want to stay in rural communities. The biggest is affordable housing. Pre-pandemic towns in greater Minnesota often touted their stock of low-priced homes, but since remote work became an option, many of those homes have been snapped up by people leaving urban areas for more picturesque places.

The 2026 season of Rural Voice continues, with conversations still to come in Albert Lea and Faribault. Registration is still open for the final Rural Voice town hall — on housing — on Oct. 6 in Marshall. Get more information and register online.