32nd Annual Think-Off Debate
Saturday, June 14, 2025 @ 7pm
Held @ NYM School Auditorium
Think-Off Kick-Off Friday, June 13
The 2025 Great American Think-Off debate will be held at the New York Mills School Auditorium on Saturday, June 14th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open to the public at 6:00 p.m. All are invited to attend the debate and cast your vote to help select America’s Greatest Thinker for 2025!
The Think-Off Weekend will kick off on Friday, June 13th, 2025. Grab dinner from Lone Pine Soup Co. food truck in front of the Cultural Center between 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Join us for a Historic Walking Tour of New York Mills at 5 p.m., followed by a chance to meet the finalists at a welcome reception held at the Cultural Center from 6-8 p.m. This is also a reception for our annual regional gallery show, which this year is based on a quote by Pablo Picasso, “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” In addition to introducing the Think-Off finalists, regional artists in attendance will also be invited to share about their work.
This year’s Think-Off question is:
Is there only one truth, or are there many truths?
The 2025 Great American Think-Off Finalists are (in alphabetical order): David Eckel from Clayton, NC; Pavithra Krishnan from Troy, MI; David Lose from Eden Prairie, MN; and Jay Sieling from Miltona, MN.
Learn more about the finalists by clicking below:
Meet the 2025 Think-Off Finalists >
This year’s debate will once again be moderated by Trygve Throntveit, Director of Strategic Partnership at Minnesota Humanities Center, and also Global Fellow for History and Public Policy at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. We appreciate Tryg returning to NYM after his first year moderating in 2024.
Tickets to attend the debate are on sale NOW! Adult tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door; students are $5.
The New York Mills School is located at 209 Hayes Avenue in New York Mills, and attendees should use the middle “Sports Center” doors marked by the flying eagle sculpture. Walk straight ahead after entering the doors to reach the Auditorium.
Click the button below to buy tickets online:
Immediately following the debate, all are welcome to gather at the Cultural Center to enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar and engage the finalists and fellow audience members in further discussion. Free to attend and open to all.
Once again this year, to be more accessible to a broad audience, we plan to livestream the debate on our YouTube channel.
Can’t make the live debate? Tune in here! >
If you do choose to log on virtually, please consider making a donation in lieu of purchasing a ticket, to help us continue our work in cultivating the arts, civil discourse, and big thinking in rural America!
Donate now to support civil discourse >
Think-Off Kick-Off Friday, June 13, 2025
Join us in kicking off the 2025 Great American Think-Off weekend on Friday, June 13th!
We are pleased to host a NYM Historical Walking Tour at 5:00 p.m. led by Chris Schuelke, Executive Director of the Otter Tail County Historical Society. Thanks to a grant from Lake Region Arts Council, there is NO COST for participants to join the walking tour. Donations are always welcome to support OTCHS.
When Otter Tail County commissioners held their first meeting in September 1868, there was no New York Mills. It was a forest of white pine, red and white oak, tamarack, and ash. This woodland attracted a group of investors from Olean, New York to establish the New York Mills company. Arrangements were made to build a lumber mill in Section 8, where the community is now situated. Materials arrived in 1872 on the first rail car and the mill operated in the area that is now Central Park.
Join us as we explore the buildings and stories that make New York Mills such as fascinating community. For more information about this walking tour, contact the Historical Society at 218-736-6038.
A Finalists & Artists Reception follows from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday June 13, 2025, where you can meet & greet the Think-Off Finalists and Regional Artists featured in our current Gallery exhibit, “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” — Pablo Picasso.
The Reception is free to attend and open to all. Enjoy refreshments and a cash bar. Think-Off Finalist Introductions and Artist Talks will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Click below to learn more about the Gallery Show:
Annual Adult Regional Gallery Show Details >
Looking for more to do in New York Mills during the Think-Off Weekend?
Join us for the weekend! There’s so much to do in NYM and Otter Tail Lakes Country!
- Visit the Cultural Center Gallery & Gift Store for unique locally-made treasures! Free to see; open Friday 10-5 and Saturday 10-3.
- Check out the NYM Sculpture Park & Big Red Barn — including the world’s largest tractor sculpture! Outdoor public art – free to visit.
- Go to the Otter Tail Lakes Country website [ottertaillakescountry.com] to Find Your Inner Otter and see all there is to do in MN Lakes Country!
Big thanks to Minnesota Humanities Center for sponsoring this year’s Think-Off. We are thrilled to be back in partnership with MHC following their support of the early years of the Think-Off when it was broadcast on C-SPAN, as mentioned in this video: 1998: C-SPAN – Is Honesty Always the best policy? Thank you Minnesota Humanities Center!
We are also grateful for grant support from Lake Region Arts Council!
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.
We would also like to thank the following local businesses and organizations for their partnerships/sponsorships of the Great American Think-Off (list will be updated as sponsors are added). We are so grateful for our community’s support!
- Whistle Stop Bed & Breakfast (hosts finalists)
- Grass Roots Ottertail (provides flowers & plants at event)
- New York Mills Public Schools (venue partner)
- Overflow Creative (design partner)
- Farmers & Merchants State Bank
- New York Mills Civic & Commerce Association
- NYM Lions Club
- Property Minders
- Toni Ebner
- Thursday Night Card Group
- Mills Lanes & Lucky Strike Grill
- Oma’s Bread
- County Cycle Pit Stop
- Mills Auto Parts
- Certified Auto
- Centennial Realty
- Mills Liquor
- Vandermay Mechanical
- Perham Printing
- NYM Senior Center
- NYM Dispatch
- Otter Berry Farm
- Lisa Preuss Farmers Union Insurance Agency
- Mills Country Market
- Theisen Design Studio
- F&M Insurance Agency
- Magnifi Financial
- Klein Insurance
- AP Printing
Sponsors are always welcome to help bring the Great American Think-Off to life! Click below to donate online, or contact info@kulcher.org or 218-385-3339. Sponsors are recognized online and in the event program, if information is received in time for publication.
Click below to sponsor the Think-Off online; use the “Sponsor Our Event” button on the right, underneath the orange “Purchase” button for tickets:
Click here to sponsor the Think-Off using an online form >
Sponsorship questions? Email info@kulcher.org or call 218-385-3339.
Just want to donate to support BIG THINKING and CIVIL DISCOURSE? Click below!
Donate anytime to support civil discourse >
Questions or want more information? Give us a call at 218-385-3339.
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through an operating support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
