Compeer Announces Rooted & Rising Series
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Kayla Hedrick, Grit Marketing
[email protected], 309.657.1858
Jill Carlson, Public Relations Strategist
[email protected], 309.502.2805
Compeer Announces Rooted & Rising Series
Three-part series committed to rural vitality
Sun Prairie, Wis., (April 28, 2026) – As rural communities continue to face economic, social and population shifts, the urgency and opportunities for renewed investment in rural communities has never been clearer. That’s the message Compeer is delivering with its newly introduced event series “Rooted & Rising”, a three-part series in 2026 that amplifies the impact rural leaders can make when working together, bringing experts in rural communities together to help bridge the conversations.
Those with a vested interest in rural success are invited to join Compeer for a webinar on May 6, 2026, as they kick off the conversation.
“No single organization can solve rural challenges alone,” says Jase Wagner, CEO of Compeer Financial. “This work takes partnership. We bring capital, expertise and connections, but real progress happens when we’re working alongside others who are just as invested in rural communities.”
Ben Winchester from the University of Minnesota will join Compeer during the inaugural webinar to lay the foundation for conversation in rural communities. Winchester, a trained rural sociologist, is working to rewrite the rural narrative and will share observations from his own research related to the economic, social and demographic themes surrounding rural America.
“Ben is the ideal voice to kick off this series of rural topics,” adds Wagner. “His optimism and depth of experience set the right tone for the conversations we’ll continue to build.”
The webinar on May 6, 2026, is the first in a series of events Compeer will host, including another webinar on June 10, 2026 and an in-person event September 14-16, 2026, in Owatonna, MN.
The concept behind the series is shared rural responsibility, a discussion where community leaders, local governments, nonprofits, educators, healthcare providers and businesses work side by side toward a common goal of rural vitality.
For those interested in learning more about Compeer’s efforts in rural vitality and in registering for the in-person event, visit compeer.com/ruralforum to learn more.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $36.1 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.
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