Peter Kenyon, an Australian with a history of helping small rural communities revitalise themselves, spoke at meetings and presentations around Balclutha.
He first visited South Otago in 2004 and was brought back to reinforce his messages, which have helped hundreds of Australian rural communities stimulate new business and economic opportunities and turn struggling townships into prospering ones.
At one of his presentations in Balclutha, he addressed about a dozen young people and others with links to youth organisations.
He told the group every community needed to have a strong youth component and young people were a community's greatest resource - far more important than dairying or retail.
"You bring a unique contribution and every community needs its young people for it to be sustainable."
While youth were always going to be attracted to tertiary education and overseas travel, the secret was attracting those 25-30-year-olds back to towns like Balclutha.
That was the age when people were starting to set up businesses, have families and become more involved in their childrens' extra-curricular activities.
"You are an incredible resource and we, as adults, need to change the way we see you young people.
You should be seen as problem solvers and not the problem," Mr Kenyon said.
He also addressed members of the Clutha District Council's district development board during the day and last night spoke to Big River Promotions members about identifying the town's three big issues.
This morning he will visit Owaka to talk about "Creating a Pulse in Owaka" which involves a team approach to community and business development in a small town.
