What started as a grassroots idea to bridge the gap between classrooms and careers has now grown into a regional movement. The Bluff Country Collaborative (BCC) is celebrating its 8-year milestone with a community summit on Wednesday, October 9 at Rushford-Peterson High School, and you’re invited to attend.
Since 2017, the BCC has been building partnerships between schools, employers, and community organizations across Houston and Fillmore Counties. The goal is to give students real-world career experiences while helping local businesses strengthen their future workforce.
“Eight years ago, we set out to bridge the gap between classrooms and careers,” the BCC Leadership Team shared. “Today, we celebrate the impact of so many students gaining real-world experiences and the businesses who have stepped up to invest in our region’s future.”
Celebrating Success Stories
This year’s summit will shine a spotlight on the people who make the program work: students exploring career pathways, educators bringing innovation into the classroom, and businesses investing in mentorship, internships, and hands-on training.
The evening program includes:
Opening keynote and welcome from emcee Katrina Hurley, Community & Business Development Specialist
BCC update highlighting progress over the past eight years
Impact stories from employers, educators, and students, including La Crescent-Hokah Principal Jacob Feldman, employers Marge O’Laughlin and Lane Powell, and student Adaline Minor
Breakout discussions where attendees can share ideas on strengthening school-business connections
The event wraps up with networking opportunities and a look at next steps.
Community Partnership at Work
The BCC’s success has been fueled by wide-ranging partnerships, including Houston and Fillmore County schools, local Economic Development Authorities, the Southeast Perkins Consortium, Southeast Service Cooperative, Workforce Development, Inc., and Community and Economic Development Associates.
Local employers have also played a key role, from offering internships and job shadowing to hosting mock interviews. Support from sponsors such as Spring Grove Communications, MiBroadband, Wieser Brothers General Contractor, Gundersen Health, and MiEnergy Cooperative has helped sustain the initiative year after year. Financial support from the AcenTek Foundation has also helped make consistent programming possible for area students.
The BCC’s work has already impacted hundreds of students, but organizers say this summit is as much about the future as it is about the past. Attendees will hear ways to get involved, whether through mentorship, advocacy, or hands-on opportunities for young people preparing to join the workforce.
The Bluff Country Collaborative 8-Year Celebration & Summit takes place October 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in Rushford. The event is free and open to community members, employers, educators, and students who want to learn more about connecting education and employment in Southeast Minnesota.
Here’s the full schedule:
BCC 8-Year Summit Agenda — October 9, 2025
📍 Pine Meadows Lane, Rushford, MN
5:30 – 5:35 p.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks – Emcee: Katrina Hurley, Community & Business Development Specialist
5:35 – 5:50 p.m. | Opening Keynote
5:50 – 6:20 p.m. | BCC Update – Led by the BCC Leadership Team (Brian Cashman, Allison Wagner, Chris Hahn, and MaryAnne Bedtke)
6:20 – 6:35 p.m. | Impact Stories – Shared by:
– Jacob Feldman, Principal, La Crescent-Hokah School
– Employers Marge O’Laughlin and Lane Powell
– Student Adaline Minor
6:35 – 6:50 p.m. | Breakout Sessions – Interactive discussions on connecting schools, businesses, and students
6:50 – 7:00 p.m. | Closing Reflections & Next Steps