TCCA honors volunteers, pushes for rural revival
- Karin Nauber
- May 13
- 1 min read
by Karin L. Nauber
The Clarissa Ballroom was buzzing with energy and purpose during the Annual Todd County Council on Aging (TCCA) Volunteer Recognition event held on Wednesday, April 16.
The celebration included a pop-up volunteer fair, music by Swedish Nyckelharpa trio Tjarnblom, and a free lasagna dinner—drawing a crowd eager to honor community service and explore the future of rural living.
Keynote speaker Ben Winchester, Rural Sociologist with the University of Minnesota Extension, delivered an inspiring address focused on “rewriting the rural narrative.” He challenged attendees to abandon the idea that rural America’s best days are behind it.
“We’re not experiencing a brain drain,” Winchester said. “We’re experiencing a brain gain—people are moving out, moving in, and moving over.”
He encouraged rural communities to adopt a positive narrative if they want to enact real change, adding, “My name is Winchester, and I am giving you the ammo to fight this negative narrative.”...
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