Southwest Minnesota State University will host academic motivational speaker Dr. Joe Martin on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Conference Center, lower level. Martin is an award-winning speaker, author, professor, and retention expert. He’s authored or co-authored seven books, including the top-selling Good Teachers Never Quit and Tricks of the Grade. He's now regarded as "The Educator's Educator" and the country's leading expert on new teacher retention and student motivation issues. The event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and SMSU Access Opportunities Success (AOS). It is free and open to the public.

The Southwest Minnesota Orchestra will host an open house for the public to kick off its 50th anniversary season on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Whipple Gallery, located in the McFarland Library on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University. Special guest will be music director Dan Rieppel’s son Erich, the recently-appointed principal timpani of the Minnesota Orchestra who got his in orchestral music start as a high schooler, filling in as timpanist for the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra. He will share the experiences of his career and will be on hand to greet fellow graduates of Marshall High [...]

Competitive barbecue returns to Marshall for the 12th annual Southwest Minnesota State University Smokefest, which will be held Aug. 16-17 at SMSU. Event coordinator Tim Steinbach said approximately 42 barbecue teams will compete this year for cash prizes.. Smokefest has become a regional favorite as teams from across the Midwest vie for top honors. Teams will arrive Aug. 16 and begin setting up in the parking lot next to the R/A Facility. Teams will barbecue four meats — chicken, brisket, ribs and shoulder (pulled pork) — and those will be turned in for judging starting around noon on Aug. 17. Results [...]