S5:E29- How Chambers Can Change with the Times with Kausha Magill

We’re back with one of our most very favorite people and Oakes local, Kausha Magill, to talk Chambers of Commerce. This episode explores how Chambers of Commerce can stay relevant by embracing collaboration, experimentation, and a regional mindset. It’s a practical, uplifting look at what happens when chambers evolve with the times instead of sticking to the “Well, this is how we’ve always done it.” 

About Kausha:
Kausha lives on her family's farm and ranch about 15 miles north of Oakes. She and her husband Chuck, have been married for 30 years and have three children: Dalton, who is married to McKinzee, and their daughter, Nellie Mae (soon to be a big sister!); Addison and her husband, Parker; and their youngest son, Garret, who is engaged to his lovely fiancée, Morgan.

They are so proud to say that their sons are part of the family farm/ranch and so that legacy will continue for the Magill homestead. Their daughter is also involved in agriculture and has started her own Ag Marketing business, where she designs and produces bull sale catalogs along with other creative advertising for ag-related businesses.  

Kausha was an English Teacher in her early days then worked side by side with her husband for several years until their sons were able to be involved in the day-to-day operations. Then, the wonderful opportunity to become the Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce Director became her part-time job, and she's been serving in that capacity for nearly six years!  

She can honestly say that she's never had a day when she dreaded coming to work and finds her job to be incredibly rewarding. She gets excited thinking about young people coming back to Oakes because it's a thriving small town! She loves being able to help our chamber membership promote what they have, whether that is merchandise, services, opportunities, or events for the public, as well as just promote Oakes as a whole.  

In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family (especially her new granddaughter!) and work on puzzles and read in the winter. Her summers are usually filled with outdoor activities, along with riding horses as much as she can!

 

In this episode, we cover:

• Why regional collaboration may be the next evolution for rural chambers.

• How the Oakes Chamber uses progressive leadership and strong governance to stay relevant.

• Union Square: how a bold park project became a community hub in year one.

• What makes board recruitment work in a small town.

• Why ideas need a place to land, and how chambers can become that place.

 Links + Resources Mentioned:
Oakes Chamber Website: https://oakesnd.com/chamber

Oakes Chamber Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakeschamber/
More about Union Square: https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/teens-in-oakes-transform-downtown-with-new-union-square-park

Sponsor Spotlight: The Yellow Bird
The Yellow Bird is a longtime favorite and friend of Growing Small Towns and our Executive Director, Rebecca.

The Yellow Bird is a family-owned, all-natural skincare company committed to keeping things pure, simple, and safe. Their products are made with real ingredients you can pronounce (and actually read on the label), free from synthetic chemicals, and gentle enough for the whole family—especially anyone with allergies or sensitivities.

Founded by Nicole, who grew up in a home that prioritized holistic living, The Yellow Bird was born from a simple truth: what we put on our skin matters. Their mission is to make effective, affordable skincare using minimal yet powerful ingredients like coconut oil and essential oils. You can shop their full line online, including on Amazon.

Use https://www.theyellowbird.co/?ref=REBECCAUNDEM for a discount when you shop! 

Want to get your business in front of our audience?
We are looking for podcast sponsors!

Each season, we feature a select group of Small Business Partners—brands that share our mission to celebrate small-town life and big ideas.

With a 4–6% average Facebook engagement rate (well above the industry average), 2,600+ loyal followers, and 45,000 monthly content views, we have an amazing, highly engaged audience of people who can’t wait to learn more about you.

When we feature you, your story, and your product/service, it’s like a friend’s recommendation, because it is. Want to know more? Reach out to us at [e-mail]

We have a membership!
Join the GST Club — a virtual support community built for those leading change in small-town America.

For $30/month, you’ll get twice-monthly live calls with Rebecca, access to a private network of fellow small-town changemakers, replay recordings, frameworks, and early access to GST events.

It’s for anyone from volunteers and entrepreneurs to city officials who believe small towns deserve big ideas and better leadership.

Part think-tank. Part pep-talk. Part creative jam session. All support. 

We Want to Hear From You!
We really, really do, and if you’ll let us, we’d love to feature your actual message just like we did with Terri’s (with your permission, of course!)

Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re have two “participation dance” elements of the show:

1. “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. 

2. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. 

If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! 

Get In Touch
Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [e-mail]

 

Subscribe + Review

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!