Shining Rural Kansas Examples
The article stated, “If only Kansans were as fiercely independent and self-reliant as they claim to be. They might take a stand to preserve their own future. They might step away from the herd to consider new ideas. With more self-confidence, they might believe the approach to agriculture that’s disserved them can be changed for the better.” Who says that we are not? This is based on outdated perceptions, not on founded research that was done unbiasedly by moving back to Kansas and working amongst those in the trenches every day.
I have lived in both Downs and Courtland, Kansas, which were both quoted in the article. These two communities have some shining examples of success and forward-thinking for rural Kansas. Maybe in some urban eyes, these efforts are not “good enough” and the efforts as a whole of rural Kansas to slow population loss are “not enough”, but I am sure glad that these urbanites are not the only judges.
The author of this article was lucky to meet some of the best Kansan’s that I know. That’s a blessing that doesn’t happen for most. Luke Mahin, his board and resources, are doing great things for rural Kansas out of Republic County. Marci Penner and her team are massively changing the rural narrative throughout the State. I am sorry that the writer wasted her time with them arranging their quotes to fit the viewpoint of a story pitch.
The best of the city with the perks of country living
Rural Kansas does combine the “best of the City with the perks of Country living”. You can do as much as or as little as you are committed to do, right here. Who says that the only measure of success is how many people you live around? Can it not be that you live a happy life with some of the best people in the World, in a place that you love, where you have figured out how to make a living at what you love?
We are so glad that they discovered Fresh Seven Coffee. We love it too and often use it as a shining example Statewide about what is possible. The lesson here though, don’t only drink your coffee out of gas stations. There are many other great coffee shops and shining examples of other rural Kansas success that are not found in gas stations or by staying on the beaten path of the City/Interstate 70.
Diversity can be a key
Farm to Table and other value-added agriculture are part of the equation. Diversity of people and economy can help us. The vast majority of people that I know are open to diversity. Personally, I would like more diverse people, but we need to develop the diverse economy that can get them here. And since when does identifying as “white only” on the census make us any less open to diversity than someone who writes down “African American” only or “Latino” only on that same census? I know many people who could benefit from living around others that are different from them. But, just because the environment doesn’t offer a lot of diversity, it doesn’t mean all of these people are prejudiced and I feel like that is what the article implied.
Diversifying the economy is hard and complicated. The systems have to be in place to support this decision and get this product to market. Kansas doesn’t have that system down yet to get non-commodity products to market, in most parts of the State, even if Farmer’s wanted to switch. There are groups working on that now.
Opinions are just opinions, but what we need is actionable objectives out of these opinions. I think that you would find some progressive farmers willing to listen to good ideas. This has actually been happening for a while now. There are many more farmers like Mr. Raile in the story who zag when others zig. Farmers learning, farmers trying new things, farmers working harder than most people have ever worked in their lives. But, the idea has to start, the idea has to spread, the idea has to make sense, and it has to cash flow. If someone figures out how these opinions translate to rural Kansas, let us know. Have you ever tried to grow a weed and bug-free garden on a piece of property more than the size of two football fields? Try that yourself organically and let me know how complicated that is.
Jobs and Government for Rural Kansas
Kansas Works is not a good indicator of how many jobs rural Kansas has available, because many of our employers don’t use this resource. Most of our employers either don’t advertise their positions, finding applicants through other connections, or have stopped advertising their positions because there aren’t enough people to fill them. In March 2018, Republic County had an unemployment rate of 2.8%. Traditionally, about 3% of a places workforce is never looking for work, so if that holds true our unemployment rate is less than zero. Every week we list pages of jobs.
The Kansas Government doesn’t have enough funds and programs to support rural Kansas. That’s why we don’t solely rely on the Kansas Government. We utilize a quasi-government organization called Network Kansas E-Communities to support and grow our own entrepreneurs. We have been blessed to be able to utilize the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, a private Foundation in Northwest Kansas that is investing every year to improve our communities. This same Foundation founded the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center in 2017. While it is too new to really know the impact of the organization, I see massive influence coming in the future. Additionally, many Counties are also raising funds for Community Foundations that will last forever and help to self-sustain non-profits and municipalities that they serve.
Two telecommunications companies, Nex-Tech and Cunningham Telephone and Cable, out of the same area brought fiber to premise Internet to this part of the State back in 2013. Better internet than most Cities have and long before Topeka, Kansas changed its name temporarily to Google to get Google Fiber there. Thus, the reason that I own a Marketing Agency out of Courtland Kansas. Thus, the reason that an Internationally-competitive advertising agency, Brush Art Corporation, is located in Downs Kansas. Thus, the reason that I responded to this article the same day that it came out from our “cut off” region of Kansas (even though it took me way longer than a day to formulate my thoughts). “The best of the City with the perks of Country living”. I would argue, the best of living period without having to deal with all of the draw backs of too many people.
Be part of our comeback story
Again, it’s all through the lens that you are looking at it from. I welcome back the author at any time to try writing an article from our true perspective. The article stated, “People who have never left rural Kansas just see the limitations.” Well as this case shows, people who do leave Kansas sometimes just see its limitations too. I invite all of you back in twenty years to see what amazing things that these amazing Kansans have accomplished. I’m going to venture to say, based upon what I am seeing right now in rural Kansas, that some of the dire predictions will not have come true. I invite you to be part of our comeback story.
Jenny Russell
Owner of JenRus Freelance
Rural by Choice