America’s Greatest Thinker: Blaine Rada Audience Votes: Social Responsibility is More Important than Personal Choice On Saturday, June 11, 2022, a majority of the audience of more than 200 voted to name Blaine Rada of Darien, IL America’s Greatest Thinker...
29th Annual Think-Off Saturday, June 11, 2022 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium Reception to follow @ Cultural Center The 2022 Think-Off debate will be held at the New York Mills School Auditorium on Saturday, June 11th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open to the public at...
29th Annual Great American Think-Off Philosophy essay & debate competition Essays due April 1st The Great American Think-Off, now in its 29th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the New York Mills...
Question Announced January 1 Essays Due April 1 Finalists Announced May 1 Great Debate June 11, 2022 When you make an important decision, what do you consider in your assessment of pros and cons? Certainly you think about how that choice will affect you...
Let your voice be heard! Vote by December 27, 2021 The question with the most votes WINS! The Great American Think-Off committee has met and selected three choices as possibilities for the 29th annual Great American Think-Off question. Just to shake things up a bit...
Playing by the Rules WINS! Dan Tschida of Minneapolis, MN wins 28th Annual Great American Think-Off philosophical debate in New York Mills, MN Tschida defeated AJ Gil of Atlanta, GA in the final round of debate on Saturday, June 12, 2021, successfully arguing his...
28th Great American Think-Off Philosophy Essay Contest Live Debate June 12, 2021 These four writers were selected as the top essayists answering the 28th annual Think-Off question, “Which is more important: to win or to play by the rules?” These four...
28th Annual Think-Off Question Announced January 1, 2021 The Great American Think-Off, now in its 28th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once...
Great American Think-Off Virtual Documentary Film Watch Party Thursday, June 11, 2020 Begins at 7:00 p.m. In honor of the 2020 Great American Think-Off, which was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, we are hosting a virtual watch party on Facebook to view the Think-Off...
2020 Think-Off Debate Cancelled Submitted Essays Valid for 2021 Essays Accepted Until 4/1/21 2021 Think-Off Debate June 12, 2021 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Great American Think-Off debate has been cancelled. This year’s question, “Which is more...
28th Annual Think-Off Question Announced January 1, 2020 The Great American Think-Off, now in its 28th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once...
Jennifer Nelson is the 2019 America’s Greatest Thinker! 27th Great American Think-Off Held June 8, 2019 Debate Details Follow Jennifer is a native of Morris, MN who currently lives in the Twin Cities where she works as a research consultant for the DFL Caucus at...
27th Great American Think-Off Congratulations to all 4 finalists! Read the winning essays below The four finalists for the 2019 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): Rick Brundage of St. Paul, MN; David Lapakko of Richfield, MN; Louise Mengelkoch of...
27th Great American Think-Off Announcing Honorable Mentions Read Essays Below Read the 2019 Honorable Mention Essays Below, OR you can: 2019 Think-Off Results 2019 Think-Off Finalist Essays Michael Denny, Journalist from Staples, MN No Voting does not matter. It...
Final Four Announced “To Vote or Not to Vote: Does it Matter?” Essay Finalists to Debate Topic June 8, 2019 @ 7pm The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces four finalists from the essay contest portion of the 27th Annual Great American Think-Off....
You heard right, folks! The new deadline to enter your opinion essay for the Great American Think-Off is April 15th, 2019! To vote or not to vote: does it matter? Historically, groups of citizens have fought hard for the right to vote, only to have more than half of...
UPDATE! Essays are now due April 15th, 2019! The Great American Think-Off, now in its 27th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once again...
Anthony Berryhill of Austin, TX! Runner-up Armchair Philosopher, Mark Bland of Virginia Beach, VA, out-argued Rudy San Miguel of New Orleans, LA to advance to the final round of debate, wherein Anthony Berryhill took the prize! Before debating Bland, Berryhill first...
Success or Failure: Essay Finalists to Debate Topic Cultural Center Announces Great American Think-Off Debate Finalists The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces four finalists from the essay contest portion of the Great American Think-Off. These four win $500...
An entrepreneur’s new business fails. A 7th grader receives the “most valuable player” award for basketball. A recovering addict fails to abstain. A singer auditions for and wins a role on Broadway. Everyone experiences some successes and failures in life, but...
2017 Think-Off Question Answered: 2016 Election DID Change Our Perception of Truth New Yorker Named Greatest American Thinker in New York Mills Saturday, four armchair philosophers faced off in the Great Debate portion of the Great American Think-Off philosophy...
2017 is a special year for the Great American Think-Off, as it marks the 25th annual philosophical debate. Because of this milestone, the Cultural Center is hosting several weekend events; see the schedule below. Friday, June 9 6-9pm Think-Off Kick-Off at the NYM...
“Has the 2016 election changed our perception of truth?” The Great American Think-Off committee announced this, the 25th annual Think-Off question, today, January 1, 2017. The Think-Off is a philosophy competition held each year in tiny New York Mills, MN....
More Ways to Win in 2016 Great American Think-Off America’s everyday philosophers have a new incentive to share their thoughts with the nation this year. The Great American Think-Off, a philosophy contest held annually in the small rural town of New York Mills,...
Topic for the 2016 Great American Think-Off is “Income Inequality Threatens Democracy” After much discussion, and appropriately, some healthy debate, the Great American Think-Off committee has decided on this year’s topic for the annual debate: “Income Inequality...
Topic for the 2016 Great American Think-Off: “Income Inequality Threatens Democracy” After much discussion, and appropriately, some healthy debate, the Great American Think-Off committee has decided on this year’s topic for the annual debate:...
The four finalists have been chosen for the 23rd annual Great American Think-Off, to answer the question “Does Technology Free Us or Trap Us?” Arguing that technology traps us will be Paul Terry and Marsh Muirhead, while David Eckel and David Lapakko will...
In the Gallery: “Women Create” Sept/Oct 2024
Orphan Trains Film & Author Discussion POSTPONED
Ceramics Workshop: 2-Class Series Oct 17 & 24, 2024
Larry Long & Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott 2024 Reunion Tour
2024 Community Kids’ Halloween Party
Brianna Helbling Concert Friday, November 1, 2024
Fall 2024 Concert Series
Kip Peltoniemi Concert 11/23/24
Art for Lunch Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
2024-2025 Youth Ballet on Hiatus at the Cultural Center
Curtis & Loretta Concert Thursday, September 26, 2024
Storytelling Competition Event October 2, 2024
NYM Pickletoberfest October 5, 2024
POSTPONED Glass Mosaic Workshop September 25, 2024
Thrown-Out Bones Concert Kicks Off 2024 Fall Concert Series
NYM Welcoming Week Street Fair 9/17/24
In the Gallery: “Clay Bodies” August 2024
2024 Kalevala Puppet Pageant
Art in Your Park Summer 2024
2024 Great American Think-Off Honorable Mentions
2024 Great American Think-Off Results
2024 Great American Think-Off Finalist Essays
2024 Great American Think-Off Weekend
2023 Great American Think-Off Weekend
2023 Great American Think-Off Finalists Announced