S5:E20 - Would College Kids Return to Our Towns? with Jaci Praska

One of the most common concerns we hear from small-town leaders and residents is the idea of the “brain drain,” or the fear that young people will leave and never return. This is a very valid fear, but there is so much we can do about it! We are so excited to welcome one of our very own, Jaci Praska, who grew up in our small town of Oakes, ND, to talk to us about just how we get to keep people like her!

About Jaci:

I attend the University of North Dakota, where I am double majoring in Accounting and Public Affairs. While attending UND, I also work as a Peer Mentor in the Nistler College of Business Pancratz Center and serve as Vice-President of the UND Sales team, traveling nationwide to compete in sales competitions while learning from industry professionals. I am also a member of UND’s Women in Business Club and Marketing Club.

I grew up in Oakes, ND, working in my family’s local hardware store, where I have seen firsthand the power of small-town community. I have always been deeply involved in our community food pantry, where we strive to serve our community members in need.

 In high school, I was honored to represent students of North Dakota as a North Dakota High School Activities Association Distinguished Student and on the North Dakota Association of Student Councils State Board as the Class B representative. I was also involved in volleyball, basketball, track, choir, FFA, Honor Society, and Student Ambassadors giving me the true “Class B” experience!

In this episode, we cover:

• The tension  young people feel between opportunities in the “big city,” and their roots at home

• How family businesses and strong community shape future leaders

• Breaking the stigma around “coming back” to your hometown.

• Myths and realities about Gen Z in the workplace, especially around work ethic.

• The importance of celebrating returners and reframing the narrative about North Dakota.
  

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Praska Hardware Facebook: facebook.com/praskashardwarehank

Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and Market on the Plaza

In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It’s community! Market on the Plaza roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. Want to be a podcast sponsor? Get in touch with Rebecca: director@growingsmalltowns.org

This week's Small Town Shout-Out is:

Fort Pierre, SD! Sunny shared the things that make Fort Pier fantastic: the people, their history, the rodeos, and their new Missouri River Bridge. Sounds like we all need to make a trip to Fort Pierre and experience all that awesomeness for ourselves! Way to go, Fort Pierre. 

We want to hear from you!

Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re have two “participation dance” elements of the show: 

1. “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. 
   

2. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. 
   

If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! 

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