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Things to celebrate…
For a little town, Oakes has SO many things to do in the summer! Baseball and softball are coming to a close, but the pool’s been hopping all summer! The barrel racing series out at Bear Creek Roughriders and our awesome golf course (and disc golf, too, if you’d rather!) are a few things we encourage you to check out. Invite your friends to come and spend a day in Oakes and enjoy the amazing amenities our town has to offer! In addition to all the great activities, there are so many businesses to enjoy. Today, let’s celebrate the “mini-city” feel Oakes has come to embody!
News to know…
When the USDA visited Oakes last week (there’s a replay on the Growing Small Towns Facebook page), they provided an overview of all their programs but we wanted to highlight a really important program called the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP provides grant dollars to make energy efficiency upgrades for agricultural producers and small businesses. There are many upgrades that could qualify, including windows, doors, a roof (if additional insulation is added and you can verify an energy usage improvement), and even solar or geothermal systems. Producers in the state have used them to install grain drying systems. If you have a small business or are a producer considering these kinds of improvements, Denise Sundeen is the state program expert and she can be reached at (701) 662-8634 ext. 141. There are federal dollars to capture; we just need to know what things qualify and how to proceed. We’re grateful for their time in Oakes.
Ideas to spread…
Martin Luther King Jr. was famously quoted saying, “You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” This refers not only to what’s going to come next but it can also be applied to your own knowledge about what comes next. There will always be things you don’t know and if we expect ourselves to know everything and be able to do everything before starting a big project or pursuing a big idea, we’d never start. You don’t have to know it all; you have to be willing to ask good questions, seek out counsel, and be gritty. We need you and your ideas. We need people who are passionate, enthusiastic, and willing to work hard to make things happen. Being smart as you’re starting is important, but if we let our lack of knowledge hold us back, not only are we missing out on great ideas, but as people, we miss out on the opportunity to learn and grow through a challenging process.