Welcoming the new generation

In June, I celebrated four years of being a business owner. I bought The Ledger in 2017, a month after I turned 37. A friend's mom reminded me then that I had told her in high school one day I was going to come back and buy The Ledger. I always had a dream in the back of my mind of owning a newspaper one day, but I wasn't really ready until all the pieces fell together in 2017.

I was the last of Generation X, born in 1980. As I was getting ready to graduate high school, there was no question about whether or not I'd go to college. Cellphones were becoming common. My first was a Nokia on which you had to raise the antenna to get a signal. Most homes had some sort of home computer. The technology boom was coming.

Fast forward to 2021 and I already feel the edge slipping away when it comes to technology. Am I old? Not really, but it sure is getting harder to keep up with changes.

A few weeks ago, we wrote about Madison Suttorp, the 17-year-old who is taking over Dance XPlosion. I think back to when I was 17. There was no way I was ready to run a business. Sometimes I still wonder if I was ready at 37.

Generation Z is taking over. These kids who are being educated right now (born in the late 90s to now) and they are the ones who will lead us older generations in years to come. Generation Z is financially focused, they are competition and they welcome change. As we see the growth in our local communities, we will look to the younger generation to help our communities prosper.

When I graduated in the 1990s, there were a handful of kids who would stay local. The rest went off to college or work elsewhere, ready to explore other places. In this technical age, so many occupations are turning to remote work. We need to support the younger generation and help them find opportunities to keep up with the technology. They have an incredible opportunity to live wherever they choose. Why wouldn't we support them if they want to stay here in Sanders County to stimulate the economy and provide jobs and necessary services.

We're seeing a shift across the nation and in our hometowns. Madison Suttorp and her generation are a glimpse of the future. They are the ones who will sustain our quality of life and help our communities thrive.

— Annie Wooden