I would really like to see there be a renaissance in farming so that all sorts of folks from all sorts of backgrounds could participate in that.
Nella Parks
Cove, Oregon
Nella Parks has a vision for how her rural Oregon community could prosper in the years to come. Nella is one of 53 young people from rural communities in 28 states participating in the National Rural Youth Assembly. Watch an interview with Nella and hear other young people share their hopes and ideas for rural America.
Registration is now open for our upcoming webinar: Rural Community Resourcing Strategies on September 9th
Madeline Matson and Taneum Fotheringill traveled to Granite Falls, Minn., to host Rural Assembly Everywhere live from The YES! House, in partnership with the Department of Public Transformation (DoPT). The conversation below is a reflection on their experience hosting live, participating in an open mic night, and celebrating the hundreds of people who joined together to uplift our rural communities across the country during Rural Assembly Everywhere 2026.
Thank you to our partners at the Daily Yonder for publishing this piece about Rural Assembly Everywhere 2026. To join
Rural Assembly Everywhere 2026 features more than 30 site partners hosting local events in 21 states.
At seven, Madeline Matson loved being the youngest rug hooker among the self-proclaimed “Happy Hookers.” Decades later, a gathering of women in craft brought back familiar fun, warmth, and connection.
A profile of Jenson, founder of SisterLand farms, in Port Angeles Washington.
