Giving a voice to rural South Dakota

Leadership program taking applications for second year

Janelle Atyeo
Dec 30, 2021
Dec 30, 2021 Updated Jan 9, 2023

Rural POWER program (1).jpg — Billie and Kelsea Sutton pose with members of the first Rural POWER class: Jordan Jones of Rapid City, top left, Joshua Hofer of Freeman and Wayne Ducheneaux of Eagle Butte; Katy VanderPol of Platte, middle left, Sara Hento of Avon and Krecia Leddy of Stockholm. The leadership program is taking applications for its second year, starting Jan. 1.
Submitted photo

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Janelle Atyeo

In the southeastern South Dakota town of Avon, the latest census counts just fewer than 600 people.

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Rural POWER program (2).jpg — Sara Hento aims to tackle a housing crisis in her hometown of Avon with skills learned through the Rural POWER program.
Submitted photo

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Rural POWER program (3).jpg — Wayne Ducheneaux was no stranger to leadership positions coming to the Rural POWER program. Currently executive director of the Native Governance Center, he said the program helped him learn to work with group dynamics.
Submitted photo

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Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.