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The second season of MinneStory launches November 5th. The 2018 Midterm Elections are Nov 6. It’s probably clear to anyone who consumes the news or any media that this is a really tense time in our country, with many dissatisfied people on all sides. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from a young politician in Otter Tail County who is running for state legislature: Brittney Johnson.
She talks about what drew her to politics, and the assets of Otter Tail County. She also talks extensively about farming in Otter Tail County, including the challenges young people face when trying to start farming, and her own sheep farm.

Season One of MinneStory focuses on rural Houston County in southeast Minnesota. This episode features Nettle Valley Farm owners Dayna and Nick Burtness Nguyen. Each of them grew up in the Twin Cities area, but now make their home in the heart of the Driftless region. They talk about the transition of moving from urban to rural, the philosophy behind how they raise pigs, and much more. 

You know that small town archetype who is probably retired and sits at the town diner or coffee shop and shoots the breeze all day? Well, Jerome Neuman IS that person. But we all know archetypes aren't real, so in today's episode, you get to meet Jerome for the human he is.

Faith is important to many rural communities. But what is it about churches that create a sense of community identity? What are other ways rural people find and give back to community? In this episode, we hear about these topics and more from Terry Lauden. Terry belongs to the United Methodist Church in Caledonia, MN, is a member of an informal swimming group called the Dolphins, and was a special education teacher for her entire career. 

Episode 5 features an unexpected small town treasure: The International Owl Center in Houston, MN. It’s the only center of it’s kind in the U.S., and brings people from all over the country to small town Houston for their live owls and programs. Executive Director Karla Bloem talks about the owls’ personalities, the center’s role in the community and tourism, and their future plans for expansion.

Volunteers and community organizers are integral to thriving small towns. Father-daughter duo Lee Grippen (of Caledonia, MN) and Rachel Storlie (of Spring Grove, MN) are two very busy and equally enthusiastic community organizers. In this episode, you'll hear them talk about why they feel so strongly about giving back, the challenges small towns face (such as lack of diversity), and the future of small towns.