Cover photo: The 2072 graduating class at Leola knows they face a questionable job market if they want to return home after college. But some of them plan to return, and almost all of them said they would return if they could. They're a tight-knit class-all 70 of them. From left Heidi Spears, Andrew Hoffman, Royce Erdmann, Josh Waltman, Amber Weig, Reid Erdmann, Ashley Feickert. Ty Kessler, Whitney Heupel and Mitch Waltman. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

Spring issue of Dakotafire Magazine: The Population Issue

By Heidi Marttila-Losure April 28, 2012

Cover photo: The 2072 graduating class at Leola knows they face a questionable job market if they want to return home after college. But some of them plan to return, and almost all of them said they would return if they could. They’re a tight-knit class-all 70 of them. From left Heidi Spears, Andrew Hoffman, Royce Erdmann, Josh Waltman, Amber Weig, Reid Erdmann, Ashley Feickert. Ty Kessler, Whitney Heupel and Mitch Waltman. Photo by Troy McQuillen.