33rd Annual Great American Think-Off
Debate on Pursuit of Happiness
Live Debate in New York Mills on June 13, 2026
Editor's Note (June 10, 2026): This post has been updated to reflect a change in the 2026 finalist lineup. Julie Iverson of Minneapolis, MN, will participate in the debate in place of originally selected finalist Solape Adetutu Adeyemi of Lagos, Nigeria.
New York Mills, MN—May 1, 2026— We’re thrilled to announce the four finalists for the 2026 Great American Think-Off, the annual “philosophy contest for the masses” hosted by the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center.
The 2026 Great American Think-Off Finalists Are:
Arguing that YES, the pursuit of happiness has made Americans unhappy are:
- Julie Iverson, a self-employed ideator from Minneapolis, MN.
- Thaddeus McCamant, a longtime agriculture educator and consultant residing in Frazee, MN.
Arguing that NO, the pursuit of happiness has not made Americans unhappy are:
- Lorie Kolak, a stay-at-home mother and award-winning writer from Riverside, IL
- Allen Taylor, a truck driver from Colorado Springs, CO, and a past Think-Off finalist (2023).
These four thinkers—selected from thoughtful essays submitted from across the country and beyond—will travel to New York Mills, Minnesota, this June to debate the timely and challenging question:
"Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?"
These finalists will present and defend their ideas in front of a live audience at the Great American Think-Off Debate, held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the New York Mills School Auditorium. The audience will vote in three rounds to determine who will be crowned America’s Greatest Thinker for 2026.
Finalists each receive a $500 cash prize, travel reimbursement, and lodging at a local bed and breakfast. They’ll also take home a bronze, silver, or gold medal emblazoned with the Think-Off’s iconic logo: Rodin’s Thinker perched atop a tractor.
The 2026 Think-Off finalists (in alphabetical order):
Julie Iverson is an Ideator, Kindler of Thought, Asker of Many Questions. Listener, and a Golden Rule Devotee. She aspires to be an exemplar of honor & integrity while acknowledging her status as a word and language nerd. Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, Julie is a self-employed ideator, civic participant, and former library board candidate. Her background in education and communication from the University of Minnesota complements her career in IT training and user support. As she 'sages' (preferred to 'ages'), she is best known for her interest and activities in creative and collaborative approaches to solving problems in civic, higher education, and community environments.
Julie Iverson, Minneapolis, MN, argues YES, the pursuit of happiness HAS made Americans unhappy.
Lorie Kolak is a stay-at-home mom and writer.
Her work has been published in Wildfire, Hemingway Shorts, and Bellevue Literary Review. She is a 2026 Moth StorySLAM winner.
Many of her best friendships have been forged in writer’s groups and book clubs.
Lorie enjoys camping, gardening, and running. She lives with her husband and three children in Riverside, IL.
Lorie Kolak of Riverside, IL, argues NO, the pursuit of happiness has NOT made Americans unhappy.
Thaddeus McCamant spent his childhood moving between Montana and Colorado. He started working on farms at an early age, picking fruit and stacking hay bales. He worked with farms in Senegal and Oregon before earning his PhD in Plant Sciences from Washington State University. He spent four years teaching college before returning to commercial agriculture. 
Since 2001, he has been teaching and consulting for direct market fruit and vegetable producers throughout Minnesota through the Farm Business Management program and as a private consultant. He has written guidebooks on pest control and new fruit crops for cold climates in addition to many popular press articles on pest control. Now residing in Frazee, MN, in 2024 he started working with immigrant gardeners in the Fargo/Moorhead area.
Thaddeus McCamant of Frazee, MN, argues YES, the pursuit of happiness HAS made Americans unhappy.
Allen Taylor has a lifelong love of discussion that has brought him success throughout his life, from formal high school and college debates to being a Think-Off finalist in 2023. After attending college in Duluth, MN, he moved to the Twin Cities metro area, where he raised a family. As he thought ab
out life, he decided to get a 12-year head start on his retirement, which led him to a final career path in trucking. With little to do while driving across the Rocky Mountains except to think and debate other drivers over the CB, he appreciates the opportunity for the Think-Off to give him some focus once in a while. He lives in Colorado Springs, CO, where he enjoys debating with his wife, occasional friends and family using the guest room, and his dog. The dog always thinks that Allen is right.
Allen Taylor of Colorado Springs, CO, argues NO, the pursuit of happiness has NOT made Americans unhappy.
Finalist Update
The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center has announced a change to the lineup of finalists for the 2026 Great American Think-Off.
Originally selected as one of four finalists, Nigerian writer and environmental sustainability advocate Solape Adetutu Adeyemi of Lagos, Nigeria, will be unable to participate in this year's Think-Off after being denied entry into the United States under current federal travel restrictions established by Presidential Proclamation 10998.
Though Cultural Center staff worked with elected officials to submit letters of support, Adeyemi's request was denied, making it impossible for her to travel to New York Mills for the June 13 debate.
"We are deeply disappointed that Solape will not be able to join us in person for this year's debate," said Betsy Roder, Executive Director of the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. "Her essay demonstrated exceptional insight, originality, and intellectual rigor, and we had been looking forward to welcoming her to New York Mills."
To fill the vacant finalist position, the Think-Off committee has invited alternate Julie Iverson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to participate in the 33rd Annual Great American Think-Off. Cultural Center staff are grateful for her willingness to step in and join this year's debate.
The Public is Invited to Join Us for the Great American Think-Off Weekend Festivities:
🎉 Philosophers & Artists Reception
Friday, June 12, 5–8 p.m. at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center
Meet the finalists and regional artists, and enjoy an evening of conversation, refreshments, and art. A food truck will be available to purchase from during the reception. Free and open to all.
🎤 Live Debate
Saturday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. | NYM School Auditorium
Tickets: $15 in advance / $20 at the door / Students just $5. A reception honoring the finalists will be held at the Cultural Center immediately following the debate—everyone is welcome. Refreshments are provided and a cash bar will be available.
Click to buy 2026 Think-Off tickets >
Click here for details on Think-Off Weekend >About the Great American Think-Off:
Now in its 33rd year, The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas being explored by everyday people. Designed to bring philosophy down from the ivory towers of academia and make it accessible for all, the contest has received national acclaim, including coverage by C-SPAN, the New York Times, and The Today Show.
The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, Minnesota, sponsors this annual philosophy contest and encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to participate. The Cultural Center is a rural hub for creativity, community vitality, and lifelong learning in the arts. Since our incorporation in 1990, we have been passionate about connecting people to artists and rich cultural experiences in rural Minnesota, celebrating the local and being a window to the world.
To get a better sense of the Think-Off, find details, historical information, and a list of the past 30+ years of questions and winners on the event website:
Think-Off News Think-Off History Think-Off Media
Questions? Call the Cultural Center at (218) 385-3339.
