Reimagining Rural
What is Reimagining Rural?
Reimagining Rural is a program to increase volunteer engagement in rural communities. Reimagining Rural communities each host an in-person gathering for their local volunteers and leaders to watch rural-focused speakers via Zoom. Following the speakers, each community has their own local discussion about the ideas they heard from the speaker and how they might apply locally.
2025 Sessions
Session 1 | TRENDS IN RURAL MONTANA
Tuesday, February 4 | 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Tara Mastel, MSU Extension, utilizes recent data to share current trends across the state. Plus, success stories from small towns across Montana.
Tara Mastel is Program Lead for Community Vitality at MSU Extension where she works to
support rural community vitality and local leaders. She served nearly ten years as
a Community and Economic Development Extension Agent in Jefferson County Montana where
she led a range of projects including historic building renovations, industrial park
development, farmer’s markets and local community foundations. Tara grew up in Wolf Point and lives with her family in Red Lodge.
Session 2 | SMALL-TOWN SUCCESS STORIES
Tuesday, February 11 | 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Hear from some of your neighbors who are getting stuff done in small towns across the state. You’ll hear from Vaughn Zenko of Baker, Jenn Swanson, Shelby Jones-Dozier of Choteau, and the Winnett Aces.
Vaughn Zenko is a Montana Nonprofit Association Ambassador and has been the Executive Director of SMART in Baker, Montana, since 2021, driving economic growth and community revitalization across Fallon County. With a proven track record of securing over $1.4 million in grant funding for Fallon County, Vaughn is dedicated to fostering innovative projects and partnerships that both improve quality of life and support local businesses and was named Baker’s “Citizen of the Year” for 2023.
Before joining SMART, Vaughn served as a morning radio host and play-by-play announcer for Baker High School sports, connecting with the community through storytelling and live broadcasts. His experience spans economic development, community engagement, and public communication, making him a versatile and passionate leader.
Shelby Jones-Dozier has been with Montana State University as a Family and Consumer Science and 4-H Youth Development Agent for close to two years in Teton County. Community Vitality is an area of her work that she is passionate about because of its potential to create thriving communities and support healthy families. Before coming to Extension, she was a high-school science teacher in rural Montana.
Session 3 | TRANSFORMING CIVIC APATHY
INTO COMMUNITY PRIDE
Tuesday, February 18 | 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Jeff Siegler, of Revitalize or Die, believes revitalizing communities is the most important work we can do. It has the power to transform people’s lives by fostering a stronger sense of community. Jeff has dedicated himself to killing apathy- one town at a time. Plus, we’ll hear from Broadus, a small town that invited Jeff in to help kickstart their civic overhaul.
Past Communities
