Southwest Iowa Rural Summit Highlights Collaboration, Recovery and Creative Growth
Posted October 14, 2025
Posted by Board of Supervisors and Public Relations
Pottawattamie County leaders joined community partners, funders, and development professionals at the Southwest Iowa Rural Summit on October 10 in Oakland. The event explored how collaboration, recovery, and creativity are driving growth across southwest Iowa communities.
Event attendees included several representatives from the county as well as individuals from a mix of cities and regional organizations all reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening rural communities through partnership.
Seth Watkins, owner of Pinhook Farm in Clarinda, opened the summit with a grounded message about rural resilience rooted in the land. Watkins challenged attendees to think beyond single-issue solutions and embrace a systems approach: decentralizing livestock, rebuilding animal husbandry skills, and diversifying landscapes with multispecies rotations and perennials. He urged communities to embrace equity and inclusion, invest in clean water and trails, and support local foods and land trusts. The through-line from Watkins was that profitability matters, but “enough is as good as a feast.” Watkins closed with practical areas of focus including supporting civics education, Special Olympics coordination, water testing, and addiction treatment, underscoring that healthy communities are as essential as healthy land.
Dr. Morgan Vogel of the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research presented current data on population dynamics across western Iowa. Her analysis showed that while high school completion is strong, college completion varies by county, and migration patterns hinge on job opportunity and quality of life. Vogel emphasized that demographics, economy, and quality of life are interdependent drivers of regional vitality and that retention strategies should invest in all three.
Bethany Wilcoxon from McClure shared the Minden recovery story following the April 26, 2024 EF-3 tornado that destroyed roughly 40% of the community and was followed by a second storm only eleven days later. With support from the Economic Development Administration, FEMA, USDA, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Minden is moving from response to renewal less than a year and a half later. The city’s “Forward with Strength” vision ties projects together through policy, storytelling, and an active network of partners.
“Hearing Bethany Wilcoxon speak about Minden’s recovery and the partnerships that made it possible was a powerful example of collaboration in action," adds Board of Supervisor Susan Miller.
David Schmitz of the Iowa Arts Council outlined programs that leverage arts and culture for economic and social impact, including the Iowa Creative Places Accelerator and Arts Everywhere local access initiative. The Council’s priorities, Connect, Invest, Amplify, help rural communities activate spaces, build identity, and increase civic pride.
Closing out the day, attendees heard from a panel featuring representatives from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, Community Foundation for Western Iowa, Iowa West Foundation, TS Bank, and Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. The panelists highlighted collaborative funding, encouraging communities to bring clear strategies, local match, and cross-sector partners to the table.
The clear takeaway from the event was that from working lands to workforce, and from housing to the arts, southwest Iowa’s path forward is collaboration. By aligning local leadership, data-driven strategy, and creative partnerships, we can continue to grow vibrant, welcoming communities in Southwest Iowa.