Episode 288: How Rural America is Surviving (and Thriving)

Lamenting the “hollowing of rural America” has become standard fare across certain types of media and policy leaders, but for those who live, work, and raise their crops and family in and around small towns, rural America feels far from hollow. While these communities still face their fair share of challenges, these places are chock full of resilient, vibrant businesses, organizations, and families thriving all across the rural map.That’s what the DTN Progressive Farmer team found when they took to the countryside to tell a whole series of stories about a rural America that’s not only surviving, but thriving, and today, Content Manager Anthony Greder joins us to discuss these stories. We’ll start by taking a closer look at the rural economy today, how towns are being affected by the difficulties in the farm economy, and how they’re using past experiences and new tools to weather the storm. Then we’ll tackle some of the key challenges in rural places, from healthcare availability to school funding to rural broadband. Anthony will help us understand how those challenges are evolving, what’s holding small towns back, and the innovative ways communities are finding to attract doctors, support students, and bring cutting edge technology to every corner of the country. Finally, we’ll hear about young entrepreneurs who are choosing to build businesses (including farms) in rural communities, and the vision they have for their futures.