Rural Voices

Rural Voices” shares cultural, educational, economic and artistic views of people who have lived and thrived in the Upper Peninsula. Each of our authors in Rural Voices may be living here in the U.P. or living someplace around the globe, but the U.P. is an important part of who they are and what their beliefs and values are today. Rural Voices wants to share the voices of our neighbors and friends about life and experiences in the UP.

Recently Published

Musings of a Veteran Public School Teacher: Experiences From the Classroom During the Pandemic

What’s it like being Director of Bands for the Upper Peninsula’s largest high school during a pandemic? In this issue of Rural Voices, Marquette Senior High School’s Dr. Matt Ludwig shares his experiences and insights on navigating the challenges to maintain a successful curriculum and educational experience for his students.

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Black Americans in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – Part Two

Upper Peninsula historian Dr. Russell Magnaghi concludes his detailed history and overview of Black Americans in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with Part 2 of the series–covering 1850 to the present.

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A Yooper Abroad

Rob Hilton, Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, writes about the Upper Peninsula after living abroad for more than thirty years.

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Black Americans in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – Part One

Upper Peninsula historian Dr. Russell Magnaghi gives a detailed history and overview of Black Americans in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from 1743 to the present. Here is Part One of the series; Part Two will be published next Friday, January 22.

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Triangle Ranch: A Battle of Innovation Against the Unyielding Upper Peninsula

In this edition of Rural Voices, Erika Sauter tells the tragic story of Judson Rosebush’s Triangle Range in Iron County, Michigan–both a cautionary tale and a testament to the spirit of innovation in the face of grueling hardship in the Upper Peninsula.

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