BROOKINGS — Dacia Mitchell wanted to open her own store but wasn’t sure where to start. Then she attended the 2023 Energize conference in Wessington Springs.

“I’ve always thought it would be so fun to have a boutique,” she said. “Knowing where to start was the biggest hurdle. After I went to Energize, I thought, ‘Oh, I could do it.’”

That was in May. By August, Mitchell had opened her boutique, Modest Moxie, in Wessington Springs. She credits the stories and resources shared at Energize as the final boost she needed to create a business plan and open her store.

“I just felt like it was doable. So I jumped in and did it literally right after,” she said.

That’s exactly what event organizers hope the event inspires in its attendees.

“When Energize attendees leave the conference, it is our hope that they go home with new ideas and are energized to carry on the good work in their community, whether they get involved in a community organization, lead a community project or start a business,” said Peggy Schlechter, South Dakota State University Extension community vitality field specialist.

Organized by the SDSU Extension Community Vitality team, the annual Energize conference is a two-day event exploring innovative rural communities. It includes speakers, breakout groups and social events that highlight the host community’s resources and rural community success stories.

The sixth annual conference is on May 22-23 in Hot Springs. Previous community hosts have been Lemmon, Wessington Springs, De Smet, Milbank and Fort Pierre.

Tickets are $115 until May 14 and $150 at the door. Group discounts are available. Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit extension.sdstate.edu/events and search “Energize.”

Primarily a clothing boutique, Modest Moxie carries an eclectic mix of styles for all sizes. Mitchell has recently started adding accessories like sunglasses, wallets, jewelry and a few children’s items.

Mitchell teaches first grade in Wessington Springs, where she lives with her husband, Joey, and their 3-year-old daughter, Moxee, who inspired her store’s name. With no plans to stop teaching full-time, Mitchell operates the store on evenings and weekends as she is available.

She credits much of her success to strong support from her family — her parents own the building she uses for the store, and her mom and sister help her sort and sell her inventory.

Other business owners have also welcomed Mitchell, and locals make a point to shop there. One of the perks of a small community is getting to know her customers and their tastes.

“I love small towns. You get to know people a little bit and order things you know they’ll like,” she said. “And they support you because they want to keep it open.”

For more information, contact Schlechter at 605-394-1722 or peggy.schlecter@sdstate.edu; Kara Harders, SDSU Extension community vitality field specialist at 605-822-5140 or kara.harders@sdstate.edu; or Kellie Kolb, SDSU Extension community vitality field specialist at 605-626-2870 or kellie.kolb@sdstate.edu.