U of M speaker to discuss rural ‘brain gain’

A University of Minnesota Extension research fellow is coming to Silver Lake next week to discuss what he calls the rural “brain gain.”

Ben Winchester, of the U of M Extension’s Center for Community Vitality, notes that between 1990 and 1999, more than 2.2 million Americans moved from metropolitan counties to non-metropolitan ones.

According to Winchester, this unexpected group of rural newcomers was “composed of adults aged 30 to 49 in their prime earning years.” While rural America is losing its high-school educated youth, Winchester believes it is replacing them with experienced and educated adults, resulting in a “brain gain.”

At an upcoming presentation sponsored by McLeod For Tomorrow, Winchester will share his thoughts on:
• who the rural newcomers are,
• what attracts them to and retains them in rural counties, and
• how communities can tap into their potential new leadership.

The presentation will run from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Silver Lake Auditorium, 320 Main St. W., Silver Lake. McLeod For Tomorrow requests that attendees preregister by calling program coordinator Mary Jo Wieseler at (320) 864-1320 or e-mailing her at maryjo.wieseler@co.mcleod.mn.us.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)