As I watched my daughters perform in “The Nutcracker” earlier this month, my mind wandered to a time when my high school classmate represented my home state of Oregon in the Miss America pageant. I was lucky enough to know two women who would wear the Miss Oregon crown and while these women were extremely talented, they also had a secret weapon: the power of living in a small town.

Small towns like Iron Mountain offer children the opportunity to try various activities like dance, art, sports or drama without the pressure to specialize in only one activity. People in small towns can nurture a child’s talent and gifts in a way that larger metropolitan places cannot. The fact that parents and loved ones often get to watch the progression of a youngster’s talent bloom over the years is an added bonus. So, Iron Mountain, pay attention to the next ballet, choir or band performance — you may just catch a glimpse of coming greatness singing a solo, playing the tuba or dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy.