R2R 2026: April 16-17

Riverhouse Lodge, Bend, OR

The Power of Place

The conference is sold out but there’s still an opportunity to join on April 15 for a day of rural learning.
Click here to learn more about the mobile workshops and on-site pre-sessions.

You won’t want to miss the mobile workshops and pre-sessions on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, along with the opportunity to connect with NADO and Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, as their annual summits are being held in coordination with R2R. Join us for engaging and informative journeys to locations throughout Central Oregon, including:

Cultivating Resilience: Agritourism & Rural Economic Development on Central Oregon Farms
From Timber to Tech: Prineville – A Rural Community in Transition
Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation in Warm Springs
Simpson Property Tour & Community Land Trust Overview in Bend
*On-Site at the Riverhouse* Civic Innovation for Trust, with Josh Burgess, Founder of the Central Oregon Civic Action Project
*On-Site at the Riverhouse* Planet Dance – Move for the Movement, with Ariadne Grace

Regards to Rural is a unique event for community members and leaders throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond to discuss rural priorities, explore innovative economic models, obtain tools to make change in communities, and inspire action to help pave the way to rural vitality.

The conference is now sold out. Click here to join the waitlist.

Our 14th Regards to Rural conference will feature keynotes, networking opportunities, the Rural Visibility Project Live, the Rural Action Lab, and sessions interpreted or offered in English and Spanish. Thursday’s keynote speaker, Amanda Weinstein, Director of Research, Knowledge, & Evaluation at the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), will speak to the state of rural, with a focus on the picture for the rural West. Breakout session topics include community leadership and engagement, economic vitality and wealth building, policy and influence, and access to resources. Sessions will be geared toward providing practical tools for people to bring back and implement in their communities.

New Lodging Information

Due to demand, the Riverhouse Lodge has limited availability. Red Lion Inn & Suites is now also offering special rates for conference attendees.

Click here for the Riverhouse Lodge to reserve your room at the exclusive Regards to Rural rate.
Click here for the Red Lion Inn & Suites Deschutes River at the special Regards to Rural rate. Please note: This link defaults to show check-in and check-out dates that may be more than you need. Please modify the check-in and check-out dates to match your lodging needs.

Special lodging rates end March 30 or when the block runs out.

If you are planning on attending and have not secured a hotel reservation, click here to search for hotel availability via our trusted partner aRes Travel.

“Rural folks need this space to convene, network, and gain renewed confidence.”

Tremendous thanks to Timothy Bishop for capturing wonderful photos of the 2024 conference.