Atwood Kansas: Small Town, Big Community

By Claudia Erickson, MPH - Co Executive Director, Global Day of Unplugging.

The story of one tiny town working to prioritize community over AI and algorithms.

The infamous It’ll Do Motel in Atwood Kansas.

There is a place in the rural Northwest corner of Kansas where agriculture and ranching reign supreme.  With a population hovering around 1300, Atwood is a small farming town with a deep sense of pride and history.  If you look closely, you can also spot a sense of humor as noted by the “It’ll Do” motel sign (which says “Not a Hilton but… It’ll Do”). 

This is my husband's beloved home town and it has become near and dear to my heart as well.  Atwood is situated near a sweet little lake surrounded by mature Cottonwood trees, 2 gas stations, a mom and pop grocery store, the old Jayhawk movie theater, 2 bars, and half a dozen churches and restaurants.  Old time music still plays over the loudspeaker in the heart of town and if you want to get away from commercialism, this is it– with only the Dollar General and a Pizza Hut (open 4 days a week) as signs of chain stores.  Want something more…you can always drive 30 min south to Colby where you will find the likes of Walmart, McDonald’s and Sonic. 

The Annual Smokin’ On the Beaver BBQ Competition with some of the “Let Go of Our Butts” team.

In my humble opinion, folks here seem to be doing ok without a local Starbucks. Atwood puts on several events like the Rod Run car show, a BBQ competition and an annual reunion where all the high school classmates are invited to gather in a big hall to reminisce and catch up with old friends. What happens here is unique and as one local resident Tara Hayden put it, it has “a special pulse” that isn’t found in all small towns. Note - Tara also gets credit for the title of this article which seems spot on.

Time moves slower in Atwood and the digital divide seems wider. 

What happens in big cities takes a while to trickle down to smaller towns but it eventually comes and I know with kids adopting technology faster than adults, they will likely see changes well before their parents do.  While our kids are grown, I remember all too well the challenge of trying to get their attention away from gaming or social media.  Is it different for people in small towns where there are even fewer regular social activities to choose from?  Or is it easier to find ways to engage them in the real world through sports, family farms and businesses?  

As a digital well being expert, I think a lot about two things. Technology and its impact on communities. 

I’m deeply concerned about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) advances in technology will affect future generations.  Social media, video games and streaming services are already designed to keep people hooked, affecting their sleep, focus and relationships.  Right now we are seeing a huge boom with AI and it’s being baked into as many products as possible. Since there are no guardrails or regulation, it’s a bit of the wild west at the moment and phones and devices that were already super enticing will now be even more addictive. Just what every parent wants. 

This new AI frontier has me pondering some heavy thoughts. 

I wonder if the people in Atwood (actually, anywhere for that matter) know how fast AI is moving and the impact it’s already having on communities big and small.  Do they know that it will inevitably creep into most people’s daily lives with AI assistants, “personal life advisors” and AI companions being marketed as the answer to the loneliness epidemic we are currently facing. I wonder if parents know that 72% of kids already use ChatGPT or AI Companions and that bots are driving many kids to become less social, more reclusive, with some even opting to end their lives so they can be with their AI companions.

A smart toy named “Grem” from Curio

Do parents know that AI Girlfriends are being advertised on Youtube and in gaming spaces where very young kids are hanging out and that there are no good age verification processes in place to stop them from going to check them out.  Do they know that the holiday toy market is already a buzz of AI enabled devices that will compete for every moment of their kids attention.  “Smart Toys” are being advertised as alternatives to screen time (not joking) and as a way to make parenting easier.  These AI buddies can interact 24/7 with your kids and are programmed to encourage them to turn to the buddy for friendship, advice and help, sometimes even directing them away from their parents when they might need them most.

I wonder if people know how algorithms work.  I wonder if they know that their opinions are influenced by the content they are shown online.  Content which is tailor made for you based on what the algorithm thinks would resonate most and keep your eye balls on it the longest.  Video’s about the same topic that are shown to a 13 year old girl will look quite different than what is being shown to her 38 year old dad. They might be clips that confirm beliefs and bring joy. They might be clips that enrage. Possibly both. Social Media companies don’t care if the content they share means that fathers and daughters can’t discuss topics anymore or that neighbors decide not to be neighborly anymore.  Both types of content (rage filled or joyful) hold our attention and this is based on product design with one goal in mind —to maximize profits.

I hope people know that when they are fighting with their child over excessive screentime that they are really fighting the algorithm. Mom and Dad aren’t the bad guy and neither is your child.

My heart is HEAVY with the weight of these concerns but I’m hopeful about a place like Atwood.

I will be returning for a visit to Atwood soon and am eager to learn more about what people are experiencing online there and to open up a discussion about how we can minimize the negatives.  I know some may shy away from talking about these issues, feeling that the information doesn’t apply to them, is too overwhelming, or that they “have parental controls on and isn’t that enough?”  Sadly, it may not be. Even if safety itself isn’t a concerning issue for some, the sheer enormity of dopamine inducing content that lures people to prefer exciting online spaces over IRL ones is.

Currently, more than half of US teens spend an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes of daily screen time. Almost HALF their waking hours. Some may feel it's a futile effort if they don’t have agreement about what tech rules should be in place in their home. That’s a struggle going on all over the world in homes right now and I’d like to go on the record here and say that even if you just increase your own awareness and make a couple changes for yourself, it is well worth doing. Sometimes you become the spark for others down the road.

When it comes to technology, we have a marketing problem and a societal one.  As long as the incentive systems for social media, gaming companies and others favors maximizing engagement over user safety, parents will need to be vigilant.  It’s not fair. It’s definitely not right. But, it’s the reality at the moment.  Even though Atwood itself is a very safe town where kids can roam the city streets, when those kids go online, the whole world is open to them and they are essentially experiencing a playground that has far more hazards than falling off some playground equipment in the park.

So what can we do? 

While we can’t control all the negative ramifications that come along with the online world, there ARE many things we can do to minimize the impact. We don’t have to say No to all tech or AI advances but we can be choosy!  I think towns like Atwood have a solid chance of staying grounded and finding some balance with tech. At least it seems more doable if members of the community band together.

First, we need to be aware of what’s happening, how devices can affect our families and what steps we can take to minimize distractions and maximize human connections. You can find many excellent sources online and I’ll be covering this in my upcoming Digital Wellness talk (yup, that’s a shameless plug). If you prefer traditional books --I highly recommend the Anxious Generation by Jonathon Haidt for starters.  

Second, we can construct the type of family and community life we want.  One filled with more in-person opportunities to bring us closer together.  With so many people going online in recent years, the world has lost a lot of what is known as “Third Spaces”.  Places you can go outside of your home to connect with others and feel welcome. Roller rinks, bowling alleys and shopping centers used to provide this outlet (particularly for young people) but they are now mostly gone. Like many small towns, Atwood has struggled at times with businesses and people leaving for other ventures. 

Fortunately, there is a revitalization underway breathing new life into the town and there are people actively working to create more third spaces for community connection. 

Atwood residents know bringing community back takes hard work and commitment, but this is just the beginning and hard work is not something these townspeople shy away from.  Through my work, I help people across the globe celebrate Global Day of Unplugging (always the first weekend in March since 2009). Our year round effort, the Unplugged Village Initiative, highlights people and places forming a support system to elevate IRL gatherings throughout the year. Atwood joined this initiative this summer and I want to introduce you to some of the amazing people who are spearheading those efforts.  

Meet some of the change makers and members of the Unplugged Village Atwood.

People that have studied longevity in different cultures, such as the Blue Zones work, have found that one of the biggest factors that influences longevity is having small daily interactions with people. Whether that is the local coffee shop, grocery store or post office, a little smile and chit chat can go a long way in fighting off the loneliness monsters.

A lovely couple, Rod and Rebecca Dill, have re-opened a coffee shop called Mojos Espresso & Bistro that is built on the foundation of community.  Mojos is not just a spot for coffee and a savory breakfast, it’s the kind of place where you can have a conversation with a friendly neighbor or grab a book and sit a spell.  It’s a gathering place for thoughtful intergenerational tea parties such as the event pictured below where they were encouraged to have “Phones down, Pinkies Up” while they socialized and made beautiful floral arrangements to take home. Mojo’s truly is a place where heartfelt hugs and home cooking will warm your soul and belly.

Attendees of the Mommy & Me Tea event - a collaborative effort between Mojo’s and Grass Roots Connection, July 2025.

JoEllyn Argabright and daughter.

Another group that is helping to plant seeds of community in this memorable farming hub is the Grass Roots Connection (GRC).  Spearheaded by JoEllyn Argabright, GRC is actually a bit of a movement in and of itself with several arms. The Community Kitchen serves up fresh meals to go and offers classes for aspiring chefs to connect with their local food sources.

The Garden Hub offers garden supplies and workshops to keep your green thumbs green–or to give you one if you never had one before.  Lastly, the Grass Roots Farms is offering fall themed attractions and activities designed to bring the whole family out for some offline fun in nature.

Grass Roots cooking classes for youth - Summer 2025.

Blaine & JR Ginther on the ranch.

Just outside of town you can find Blaine Ginther & the Ginther family working to keep community going in a whole different way. Blaine, is part rancher, horse breeder, and a protector of fossils. The Ginther Stables family property sits on land that holds treasures dating back 12,000 years. Situated along the beautiful Sappa Creek, it’s easy to see why this area was home to people needing food and water sources to survive.  Blaine shares about these treasures with the community and is not only keeping local Native American history alive, but has an eye solidly on the future. 

He is an Ag tech entrepreneur and along with his two partners, Blaine is helping welcome a new industry to Atwood.  SurePoint Ag Systems uses tech to make farming more targeted and efficient. Instead of taking their invention to the big city they have joined in a new venture with John Deere to bring economic growth to Atwood and the surrounding areas.  A new facility will bring many new jobs and people to this community. 

The Dill, Argabright and Ginther families are all individuals weaving subtle but powerful threads of connection through their actions– resulting in a ripple effect bringing opportunity to this special farming community. They inspire us to unplug and reconnect with what matters most. Young people in small towns like Atwood may see life moving faster elsewhere when they check their social media feeds, and some may even leave town when they graduate from high school, but a fair number will feel the tug of this special community and return. I understand the allure of a big city having swapped Iowa corn for California beaches in the late 80’s but now I’m seeing the advantages of small town living renewed again as life gets more complicated and my brain seeks a simpler pace with fewer choices. I hope the young people of Atwood can see the beauty and value of slower living too that this special farming community provides.

If you are in Atwood and also making efforts to plug away at this problem, we want to hear about it and you can join in with the Unplugged Village Atwood. If you live elsewhere and are interested in learning how to kick start an Unplugged Village in your own community check out the link above or email us at collab@globaldayofunplugging.org!