Before Horizons II, the citizens of the towns of Letcher, Forestburg, and Artesian had the Sanborn Central school system to draw them together. But they also had more in common, and once those commonalities were recognized, new potentials and possibilities led to a new, broader sense of unity.

“In all three towns, people came to find that they face similar challenges, and now they are working as a team to solve them,” said Martha Landes, a Horizons II community coach. “The school still connects them, but they realize they are connected via other topics as well.”

Horizons II, a program of the SDSU Extension Service and funded by the Northwest Area Foundation, is helping the Sanborn Central communities share ideas and work together on several projects. Together, they have begun a Welcome Basket committee to give goodies and information to new residents in all three towns. The three communities have also helped with each other’s City Clean-Up days, and held a three community-wide Horizons Rummage Sale, with proceeds going to the Good Stuff committee.

With proceeds from the Good Stuff committee, one community group established a fitness center for seniors as a way to enhance the community’s resources. The group secured funding for the venture and received permission from the Sanborn Central School to get the Fitness Center based there. Now it’s open to all users, the school has more exercise equipment for students, and the facility is open any time the school is open for people to use it.

“It started with an idea from an Artesian resident working with Horizons, and is now a resource for all,” said Landes. “It was something all three towns deliberated on and agreed to address with this plan. People found common ground and goals.”

In addition, each community is tackling local issues through the Horizons II program. Forestburg re-paved their Main Street, Artesian rallied efforts around Paint South Dakota, and Letcher created Letcher Bucks to encourage citizens to shop locally. These are just a few of the examples of the good work being done in Sanborn Central.

Dawna Van Overschelde, Letcher, has seen spirits rise in her town. “We had a woman who attended LeadershipPlenty, and she thought, you know, ‘I’m just not a leader.’ But as we went through the process and she listed all the groups of which she was a member in, and in some cases, in a leadership role, she came to realize that, before the day was out, she was already a leader,” said Van Overschelde. “That is one of the things this project is doing for us. Towns don’t need to die. We would like to see our children come back here some day.”

For more information about Sanborn Central or this story, contact Mary Ackman by phone at 605-770-0107.

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