2020 RURAL SUMMIT DAY 2
* schedule subject to change
THURSDAY, JUNE 18 -- RURAL SUMMIT
Vibrant Rural Communities -- From Talk to Action!
REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
7:30am -- Hotel Marshfield
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Visit the Marketplace and meet with the Exhibitors
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Continental Breakfast
BREAKFAST SPONSORED BY:
WELCOME
8:30am -- Main Summit Room
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Wisconsin Rural Partners Board President Jerry Werhle
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City of Marshfield Mayor Bob McManus
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Marshfield Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Matt McLean
PLENARY - DEB BROWN - SaveYour.Town
8:45am - 10:00am -- Main Summit Room
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Small towns can best be saved by their own people using their own resources. Small towns thrive when they set themselves apart. We’ve joined forces to show you practical steps to help you shape a brighter future for your small town.
Deb says SaveYour.Town are the Change Agents. They are not the experts on small towns, they are the experts FOR small towns, including yours. You’ll hear lots of stories of small towns doing things the new way. It’s going to feel weird and strange, and yet somehow right.
You’ll slip back into the old way once and awhile (Deb says she did). You’ll find out people you thought were in the future track are really a part of the committee of negativity. You’ll find people in your crowd who you never expected to be there.
MARKETPLACE & BREAK
10:00am - 10:30am
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Visit the Exhibitors in Marketplace to learn all the products & services they can offer you in growing your rural areas. Great time to network with fellow Summit Attendees too!
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:30am - 11:30am
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You have 3 Breakout Sessions to choose from. Each will be addressing issues facing rural communities and areas. Not just talking about the Issues, but taking action and presenting successful actions and results!
Thank you Summit Sponsors
April 21-22
BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW AT A VERY SPECIAL RATE OF JUST $82!
You can come to Marshfield and stay overnight on Tuesday, April 21st or Wednesday, April 22nd. We have a limited block of rooms available so book your room today!
Call 715-387-2700 and mention "Rural Summit" when making your reservation to receive the special Summit room rate.
Our Valued Partners!
Farm Safety & Mental Health
- Breakout Room #1
Stronger Together: Equipping Communities to Support Farmers through Challenging Times
From community-wide suicide prevention workshops and PSAs on TV and radio to farmer listening sessions, and community gatherings to learn about the role of managing chronic stress for a resilient farm, we are working to address the needs of farmers head on.
CHRIS FRAKES
Project Director - SWCAP's Farmer Suicide Prevention Project
Chris is the project director for SWCAP's Farmer Suicide Prevention Project. Chris's concern about the plight of family farms began in her home state of Iowa during the farm crisis of the 1980s. She earned a Masters of Divinity in 1994 with the intention of serving rural communities, aware of both the stigma associated with seeking mental health services and the scarcity of mental health resources available in smaller communities.
Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health
Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health (RF-DASH) is a model program that can be implemented in your community. Learn the theory along with practical aspects of implementation from the designer of the program and a local/national trainer, as well as how RF-DASH can be implemented in your community.
CASPER "CAP" BENDIXSEN PhD
Director - National Farm Medicine Center | Marshfield Clinic Research Institute
Casper was raised on a farm and ranch in Idaho and competed in bareback bronc riding for nine years. He earned his bachelors from the University of Idaho and his doctorate in socio-cultural anthropology from Rice University. There, he researched the ethical lives of contemporary US pastoralists.
GERALD MINOR
Fire Chief - Pittsville Fire Company
Specialist Code 3 - Member of a regional and State wide instructional team specializing in Vehicle, Agricultural and high level rescue. Gerald has been a firefighter for over 42 years and Fire Chief for 19 years.
Housing – How Our Community is Meeting the Challenge
- Breakout Room #2
SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
Broadband: How to Get It & How To Promote It
- Breakout Room #3
How does a Community organize itself to move forward on improving Broadband access?
Learn how this Northwoods town of under 1000 residents researched technology and providers, collected data, developed a strategy, engaged leadership and stakeholders, and achieved overwhelming community support.
BILL NIEMUTH
Member - Boulder Junction High Speed Broadband Committee
For nearly 40 years, Bill has been a workhorse with a high success rate of accomplishments. Bill’s career has been about life-long learning in the class room and in the field for the benefit of his clients.
Bill took an active part in getting high speed broadband service to the Boulder Junction area. This effort took many community meetings and efforts to work with broadband providers to make this effort a reality. Learn how talk went to action and the results of the group's efforts.
What does it take to get a Broadband Expansion Grant?
Hear from a local telecom how it worked with numerous small communities to build partnerships and improve service to remote rural areas.
SCOTT NYMAN
CEO/General Manager - Cirinnity/Wittenberg Telephone Company
Scott is a growth centrist business Executive with a record of success in leading and managing telecommunications companies. He has guided success through strategic market positioning, operational improvements, and executive board collaborations.
The Bayfield County area is a leader in broadband adoption and promotion.
Learn about Telecommuter Forward certification and the techniques business and government are partnering on to drive economic development.
LEO CARLSON
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer - Norvado
Leo is the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Norvado, the premier broadband provider for Northwest Wisconsin. Currently, over 95% of the homes and businesses in Norvado’s serving area are built on fiber to the home technology and can receive up to 1 Gbps internet service. Leo is a member of the board of directors for the Sawyer County/LCO Economic Development Corporation.
Preserving Wisconsin Water Resources for future Generations
- Breakout Room #4
DAN ELLSWORTH
President - Wisconsin Water Alliance
We are an active voice in the conversation over water’s future in our state. Water is at the center of Wisconsin’s natural beauty – and it supports industries that range from agriculture and manufacturing to tourism. WWA will support reasonable policies that protect this natural resource while continuing to support economic growth.”
MORE SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
LUNCH & PRESENTATIONS
11:30am -- 1:00pm - Main Summit Room
LUNCH SPONSORED BY:
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WRP Top Rural Development Initiatives Award Ceremony
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The Top Rural Development Initiatives recognizes those communities and organizations that have made a positive impact on their rural area through collaboration and sheer grit. Overcoming challenges to make good things happen in rural areas is difficult. We want to share success stories with other rural areas and the world so we can learn from one another and prove that, although many rural areas are struggling, there are places that are having success, which creates hope for all of us.
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How We Moved from Talk to Action Presentations
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We will hear how a community in Wisconsin took on a project or issue head on and what they did to turn talk into action!
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COREY RITTERBUSCH
Executive Director of Advance Shullsburg
Advance Shullsburg - Hear how this community of 1,200 residents organized and developed a strategic, effective and sustainable approach to reaching their community goals.
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Announcement - Host Community of the 2021 Wisconsin Rural Partners Summit
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Welcome from the area of Wisconsin who will be hosting our 2021 Rural Summit.
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MARKETPLACE & BREAK
1:00pm - 1:30pm
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Visit the Exhibitors in Marketplace to learn all the products & services they can offer you in growing your rural areas. Great time to network with fellow Summit Attendees too!
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1:30pm - 2:30pm
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You have 3 Breakout Sessions to choose from. Each will be addressing issues facing rural communities and areas. Not just talking about the Issues, but taking action and presenting successful actions and results!
Funding Community Projects: Putting the Puzzle Together
- Breakout Room #1
Menomonie Market Food Co-op
This case study using multiple funding sources (TIF, New Market Tax Credits, Community Investment Grant, Community Development Block Grant, private loans) can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of your community project. Learn the inside scoop from someone who’s done it.
SETH HUDSON
E.D.F.P. - Senior Manager of Economic & Community Development Services
Cedar Corporation
Seth has over 19 years of Economic and Real Estate Development experience in both the public and private sector markets.
MORE SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
Leveraging Natural Resources for Economic Development, Tourism & Quality of Life
- Breakout Room #2
BRIAN FINSTAD
Save The Firetower Project
For people connected with the Town of Gordon (Douglas County) it was never a question of “Can we save the fire tower?” It was a commitment to “We will save the fire tower!”
Hear the inspiring story of how a former DNR fire tower slated for demolition is preparing to be a daytime and overnight tourism destination.
ALYCANN WHALEN TAYLOR
Vernon Trails - 2019 WRP Top Rural Development Award Winner
Vernon Trails is a 100% volunteer run non-profit organization committed to developing and maintaining roadways, sustainable trails, and outdoor recreational opportunities for human powered users.
What started as a small group of outdoor enthusiasts, has evolved into an organized and productive movement for the Vernon County region.
MIKE FERRIS
Forest County Economic Development Partnership
Nicolet Wolf River Scenic Byway - Learn how four north-central counties worked collaboratively to develop a four season, 145 mile route traversing the heart of the majestic Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and home of the headwaters of the pristine Wolf River -- And what happened next to impact tourism and economic development!
Enhancing Life for Older Adults in Rural Areas
- Breakout Room #3
Determining Transportation Issues & Resolving It
Price County assessed a transportation problem and met those needs through collaboration. It not only worked, but led to more transit projects across the County. Learn how they determined the issues, steps to resolve it and the success stories and expansions that came from it.
JANINE DOBSON
Manager - Senior Services - Price County Health & Human Services
Janine has been successful in bringing public transportation to a county in rural northern Wisconsin where public transit has never existed. With the help of state agencies, community partners and Bay Area Rural Transit (BART) the community started receiving public transit service in 2016.
Connecting Aging Communities Pilot Program
This was a groundbreaking, community development approach to ensuring elder independence through adoption of technology. As the program continues in Price County, lessons learned are informing replication in other communities.
GAIL HUYCKE
University of Wisconsin Madison-Division of Extension Community Development Outreach Specialist
Gail has 34 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. In 2015 she joined the Broadband Education Center serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative sponsored by Bader Philanthropies.
Renewable Energy - The Positive Effects on Rural Communities
- Breakout Room #4
MORE SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
PLENARY - DEB BROWN - SaveYour.Town
2:45pm - 3:30pm - Main Summit Room
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Small towns can best be saved by their own people using their own resources. Small towns thrive when they set themselves apart. We’ve joined forces to show you practical steps to help you shape a brighter future for your small town.
SUMMIT WRAP-UP
3:30pm -- SUMMIT CLOSES