𝟏𝟐𝟕 | 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝: 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: In this episode of The Rural Scoop, host Melissa Sadorf sits down with Will Westmoreland, a Missouri farmer, rural storyteller, and founder of The Back 40 — a platform dedicated to elevating rural voices and driving practical solutions for rural communities. Will shares how his journey from TikTok advocate to national rural organizer led to initiatives like “Save the Heartland”, which brings real rural stories to Washington, D.C. Their conversation dives deep into rural education, healthcare, agricultural policy, and how storytelling can bridge the divide between policy and lived experience. Together, they explore the importance of advocacy, collaboration, and the power of personal stories to inspire change — while reminding listeners that rural America’s strength lies in its people and their shared commitment to community. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬: 00:00 Welcome to The Rural Scoop 00:27 Introducing guest Will Westmoreland, founder of The Back 40 01:15 Will’s background 02:00 The origins of The Back 40 and what inspired it 03:05 Launching a TikTok presence 04:25 Creating Save the Heartland 05:32 The three focus areas 06:47 Challenges facing rural healthcare funding 08:10 How healthcare issues affect rural education 09:22 The impact of voucher programs on small rural schools 10:30 Why advocacy from rural communities matters 11:47 Turning local stories into national awareness 13:12 Preparing to meet with policymakers in Washington, D.C. 14:36 How to tell rural stories that connect with urban policymakers 16:10 The power of personal stories in advocacy 18:03 Future plans 19:24 Encouraging civic participation 20:48 Guidance for new and bipartisan lawmakers 22:15 Why funding education fairly matters 23:47 Creative collaboration between rural and urban schools 26:04 How teacher-sharing 27:56 Linking healthcare access 30:10 How healthcare shortages drive migration from rural towns 31:45 The ripple effect on local schools and communities 33:02 Schools as community centers — the heart of rural life 34:28 Supporting rural students entering the workforce 36:00 Handling difficult community conversations 37:20 The importance of storytelling and local role models 39:00 Will’s personal story 41:18 What ag policy means for rural economies 43:00 Tariffs, trade, and the impact on farmers and food supply 45:20 Why agricultural struggles affect everyone 46:55 Simple steps listeners can take to advocate for rural issues 48:42 Encouraging local leadership and engagement 49:55 How to get involved with Save the Heartland 50:30 Defining the “Rural Advantage” 52:05 Melissa’s closing reflections on rural schools and communities 53:40 Will’s tribute to teachers 54:30 Closing thanks and podcast sign-off 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: This conversation with Will Westmoreland captures the heart of rural America — where community, resilience, and storytelling spark real change. Will’s journey from farmer to advocate reminds us that rural issues aren’t political; they’re personal. Whether it’s saving hospitals, supporting teachers, or strengthening ag economies, progress starts when rural people tell their own stories and work together. Learn more: The Back 40: https://www.thebackfortyofficial.com/ Save the Heartland: https://www.savetheheartland.com/ 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: © 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved. The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles. For permission requests, please contact: Dr. Melissa Sadorf Email: [email protected] Phone: (520) 266-0081