Score One Great Plains!

Check out this incredibly interesting map and ponder why is America's midsection bleeding red?

The simple answer would be because it's so darn prosperous and beautifully contrary to popular belief about much of the Great Plains. According to a new STUDY released Andrew Isserman, an economist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, America's rural midsection is doing astoundingly well . Obviously, there are some glaring low points to be addressed around the nation. However, as a person with particular interest in the Great Plains and after reading much about the demise of the area and hearing word of these sentiments in books such as "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "Hollowing Out The Middle", it is refreshing to see some uplifting and positive data about my beloved great lawn of the nation.

The article points out that the statistical data were analyzed using somewhat different dimensions and ideas to define prosperity.  With close ties to the Great Plains, I can see how this would be beneficial.  Rural folks out on the plains still consider themselves to be America's Heartland and take a great deal of pride in knowing exactly what that means.  In particular, many of these people disdain measuring success purely by monetary gain and reject much of the popular sentiment being conveyed from the urban bookmarks of our nation.  Yep, out there, they still have some some strong core values, family ties and an unmatched work ethic.

Working to redefine success in one's own mind is a monumental task, especially while residing within the urban ethos. I am proud to see some researchers that realize the monumental differences between the urban rural ethic that so divides both populations socio-economically as well morally.  The intrinsic value of rural lifestyle cannot be measured, but is at least noted on a minimal basis with this survey.  According to this subset, the Great Plains in the above diagram easily depict their namesake as the blood red heart of our nation.

Urban Water Reliance

In the event to continue to bridge the gap widening between America's urban and rural residents, I see it fit to shed some light on water and the great battle it wages in the western reaches of our nation.  This ARTICLE from Montana is a poignant reminder that urbanites must remember that their lives are not a free lunch among the grand buffet of nature. 

Coming from Colorado, I have witnessed the hard fight between the urban and rural contention over valuable water resources in the most convoluded water law state in the union.  However, I never realized this was not a way of life for everyone until I moved to Dallas where they routinely have more water than they would like.  Often I have heard or read about how much water rural agriculture uses and takes from cities available resources.  This concept is strange to me as I have come to understand most western urban residents have no idea that their water is actually a commodity that has been bought on their behalf from a rural landowner.  Their seeming misunderstanding is troublesome and at the core of the continued division between the two population.  Urban residents must remember that they do not have any right to water other than what their city is able to provide.  In contrast, rural landowner have junior and senior water rights and could be said to actually "own" the water on and beneath their ground.  Their use of this water provides the bounty for which the urban market clamours.  In contrast,  many urban uses of water provide nothing more than luxury items such as lawns, luscious landscapes, golf courses or car washes.  Yet, when the inevitable drought cycle (and yes it's a cycle, not global warming) strikes, they are panic stricken and looking for answers from all of the farmers using "their"water.

Urban residents need to be reminded that their life and luxury is predicated upon the hard work and resources of the rural public supplying them with food, fiber and natural resources.  Green lawns and car washes are a luxury, not a right. Food is not a luxury, rather a necessity and it requires water to create.  As the highlighted article suggests, urban growth and growth in general is important to an state economy.  But at what cost?  Why are we creating laws that are disproportionately unfair in their distribution of water assets?  If you are an urban resident, please remember to conserve your water before you ask the the same of others.

Rural Divestment in the 21st Century

A typical Thanksgiving in America gives the majority of our population a chance to engage in a great many traditions surrounding our national day of giving thanks.  The two that I have in mind are relatively simple, yet undoubtedly widespread: gracious eating and time around the TV.  In fact, a portion of my Thanksgiving revolved around these two normalities.  I'm not a particularly devout television watcher (although I make time for Storm Chasers every Sunday) so I am not particularly abreast to the latest in sports, sitcoms or commercials for that matter.  However, if you have been near a television in the last couple months, it would have been difficult tot miss the onslaught of  IBM commercials aimed purporting a smarter planet and smarter cities. See below.



Great!  America, and the world for that matter, are getting smarter.   Or are we?  Unfortunately, this thoughtful and well intentioned ad campaign has left me with one single question:  What about rural America? Has the tide finally turned where the great corporate engine turns it's back on the resource providers and laborers of this great nation?  Now that the scale has tipped towards an undeniable urban trend, who is thinking about smarter ways to engage rural populations as a valuable member of the national ethos?  I understand that cities need to be smarter, especially considering the massive population influx that is occurring.  However, would it be equally smart to encourage stable populations in rural areas and small towns as a catalyst to alleviate the constant stress of the urban complex while promoting growth among the blighted rural populous?    Therefore, are we divesting in the success of our nation as a whole to promote the growth of an unstable and unsustainable urban population influx?  Ad campaigns such as this leave me with this question thoroughly ingrained.

The Lingering Rural

This past weekend, I spent a wonderful day shopping for antiques in Gladewater TX.  Gladewater is known as the "Antique Capital of East Texas".  Actually, some of these titles are somewhat humorous here in Texas primarily because of its immense size.  When googling Gladewater, I found that there are perhaps 5 different "antique capitals" here in Texas; one for each region of the state.  Once I found the our destination, my fiancee and I were off with a late start to spend a great day in small town-rural Texas, as well as find some antiques to use in our upcoming wedding (maybe we can find a spot for this too!)

 
Later in the week, while working and generally reflecting on the wonderful time that I had spent among the town's people in Gladewater, I came across a recent podcast on Colorado Matters, an NPR show dealing with a wide range of Colorado issues and was stuck by the similarities between my weekend experience and the relationship of the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains describe by Micheal Forsberg. Forsberg has just finished a new book entitled "The Great Plains: America's Lingering Wild" which documents the beauty and diversity of the fly over region in America. Listen Here.

Near the end of the interview, Author Michael Forsberg makes an interesting comment about the theoretical, geographical and social divide so prevalent at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.  He mentions the tension between the Great Plains and the Colorado Front Range while plainly stating that many of today's rancher's out east are begging people to "look East because there is beauty [there] too".  This sentiment could not resonate stonger in me having grown up on the Front Range and been given an eye-opening chance to look and experience the vast East on the plains.

How, then, does this connect in any way with Gladewater Texas and a quick road trip to look at antiques?  The contrast between the immense flat of the Great Plains in comparison to the towering height and beauty of the Rocky Mountains stuck me in a moment of thought to be vividly similar to that of the urban versus rural debate.  The towering urban landscape easily parallels the Rocky Mountains in this hypothetical portrait,  teaming with life and rich in biodiversity of people, culture, entertainment and careers. On the other hand, small rural towns are eerily similar to the Great Plains.  Many seem the same; small, flat and uninteresting, lacking the pizzazz and energy that a growing number of people thrive on.

As the author suggests in the interview, one must spend some time in the vast openness of the plains to grasp the gravity of their significance and the beauty of their simplicity.  Paradoxically, my fiancee and I were able revell in a similar notion while visiting Gladewater this past weekend.  Finding the beauty and simplicity of this East Texas hamlet would take some time and observation to appreciate.  In fact, even myself who is accustomed to small rural towns was somewhat turned off by the lack luster entrance to Gladewater.  My hopes of a quaint and friendly town were quickly dashing away as we approached the town with a somewhat unwelcoming appearance.  But then, as we reached the hub of the town, I was able to see with the great promise and fun this experience this might offer, similar to the thoughts of the author enraptured by the wild beauty of the plains.  Indeed, we would need to linger awhile in town to find what we were looking for.

Unbeknownst to us, my fiancee and I happened upon a special event put on by the town to mark the official beginning of the holiday shopping season.  Instead of closing at the usual Saturday time, the merchants all around the town square were going to be open until 8 that particular night, hoping to invite a crowd of people to enjoy beverages, food and fellowship while helping to jump start the holiday season the stores for the community stores.  We watched as the small town came alive with a strong showing of patrons to populate the sidewalks and stores while sharing their friendly town with us.   Stores became filled with people sharing stories, laughing, and eating all while the faint ring of the cash register kept account of the events success.

What a truly great surprise this had been; a genuine rural experience in small town America.  This is the stuff they make holiday movies about, hoping to give us warm fuzzies while we sip hot chocolate and reminisce with family.  Hats off to Gladewater Texas and their Lingering Rural.

 

 

National Ag Day and Google Art

Today is Veteran's Day and I would like to personally thank all of those who have served in the US Armed Forces to ensure my freedom on a daily basis.  I hope to remember this each day as these brave heroes make a grave sacrifice for their fellow Americans.

That being said, I also found it interesting to follow the google art from today aimed towards Veteran's Day. Hopefully I am not in violation with their policies by pasting this into my blog, but here's todays Veteran's Day logo.

The clever artwork that Google supplies on special occasions is interesting visually as well as educationally.  To find out more about the topic, one must simply click on the picutre to be supplied with a wealth of information on the subject at hand.  They provide special artowrk for a number of historic dates and causes.  The traffic this promotes is most likely awe-inspiring.  One specific cause that comes to mind is Earth Day as an example.

Well what about agriculture?  Our agriculturalists have their own day as well and it will occur the next time on March 20, 2010.  So, here's the deal.  I just contacted google about the idea of creating a special google art day for National Ag Day and I would like your help if you are intersted in seeing what the rural agriculture community can get done.  Unfortunately, I was unable to save the message to post directly here on America's Great Divide.  But, you can help by contacting Google's Business Development people to advocate for National Ag Day appearing as google artwork coming up in the spring of 2010.  Follow this link and share the idea.  I shared with them that I would be willing to spearhead the event and coordination that may need to occur but will undoubtedly need to continue with more people resounding the wish to have National Ag Day appear.

I contacted their business development group and shared my thoughts here:
http://www.google.com/support/contact/bin/request.py?bdpg=1&hl=en

If you think this is a worthy cause, let me know and we'll try and gain some steam for AG!

  

Expand and Prosper

It's the name of the game in America...EXPAND and PROSPER!  We are notorious for it and undoubtedly accomplished at it.  Corporate business models give credence to the philosophy as they grow and succeed, then grow some more.  A recent conversation on twitter has made me think a bit about what I see as an interesting situation brewing in truly rural areas dominated by the agricultural sector.  The optimist would tell you that there is great potential for young adults entering the agricultural realm while the pessimist would argue against this sentiment.

The Optimist:

The slant in the optimist's mind goes something like so: a great majority of America's farmers and ranchers are now over the age of 60 and will be reaching retirement age in the near future (assuming this actually exists in agriculture, I'm not quite a believer) leaving a huge void in our agricultural production system.  Great!  This means more opportunities for agriculture's up and coming generation to EXPAND and PROSPER.  Therefore, vast land holdings may come on the market as a result of disinterest from younger generations or retirement of the older generation.  Either way, when there is void, the people who step up and fill it stand to make a substantial gain.  Could this be a positive light in the future of Rural America?

The Pessimist:

"Well, the only get bigger, the rich only get richer and I'm out of the running anyway."  Have you ever heard something like this?  Even in my limited experience in rural America, I have heard it many times.  Take for instance out home in Eastern Colorado.  Kirk, Colorado (try googling that one if you're up for something rural!) is a true blue farm and ranch community with a good deal of family agriculturalists doing a great job feeding the world on a daily basis.  Even in this real deal family farm community, it would be a safe estimate that roughly 4 families essentially "run" things around town.  Most likely their success has been driven by sound management and an intense will to EXPAND and PROSPER.  In fact, one family farm in the community farms over 56 sections of ground!  Farming operations that big have the connections and capital to create a great advantage and expansion possibility.  In my experience with western farmers and rancher, the will and need to expand is vital. However, land deals from retiring or failing producers often get swept under the rug and are usually arranged before any party might even have an incling that land is for sale.  With this type of system, the big continually grow and prosper while the smaller farms who indeed want to expand find a great difficuluty in procuring the land assets they need to enter the realm of profits.  Mustering the clout and political connection to find any additional land almost becomes an impossibility.


Personally, I find it interesting that a good deal of honest, hard working farm families are unable to find success in their operation because of the inability to expand.  Judging by the American journalistic climate, one might assume that a small beef operation or organic farm has great profit potential.  Unfortunately, discussion among a variety of normal family farmers here in the US would probably warrant a different answer than portrayed in the media.  In the end, I believe that our rural constituents in America need to find perspective in moderation in order to keep agriculture solvent while cultivating tomorrow's wave of optimists.  In no way do I advocate government regulation and limitation to the size of holding that a person has the right to pursue.  However, if you're in the 50+ section club, maybe its time to allow fresh blood into the mix so they too can EXPAND and PROSPER!

Any input and discussion you may have on this subject is welcome and encouraged!

Rural Success....mmmmm its so good

 The previous post on America's Great Divide dealt with the big role that West Virginia has to play in the global climate change debate.  This morning, I would like to highlight another positive story in the fight for continued vitality in rural America.  It's Nebraska!

You've got to hand it to the state.  They are focused and have always been good at, well, "The Good Life".  Nebraska seems ever positive about their rural heritage and they really take it serious.  I come from half Nebraskan lineage and have experience rural Nebraska many times. I harbor fond memories of the quaint little towns and beautifully productive farms and ranches sprawling across the gateway to the west.

In keeping with the rural state theme I'd like to highlight a website that keeps it rural and inspiring.  Its not too fancy and really pretty simple, but very direct in telling the story of "rural success stories" about entrepreneurs out making the grade in the Cornhusker state.  Watching the continual flow of negative press for rural America, I was happy to find this list to remind us that our rural constituents are out making a living, and doing a great job at it to boot!

http://www.nebraskaruralliving.com/links.asp

Enjoy the list and think about people in your own state out making rural living feasible.

Go get 'em West Virginia

I ran across this an interesting article a couple of nights ago and I'd like to share some thoughts about it.  The article is entitled "Can rural America hold the world ransom?" and is a blog post from a BBC news reporter doing some gallivanting state side.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ethicalman/2009/10/can_rural_america_hold_the_world_to_ransom.html

Interestingly enough, Justin Rowlett nailed the point by simply naming his article.  Yes, rural America can hold the rest of the world ransom.  Regardless of whether you believe in the consensus on climate change or not (in which I do not), the article aims right at the heart of why our country is great and why it is important to remember what rural folks provide.  After reading the post, you will discover that the key to passing any climate change legislation lies with the senators from West Virginia who are not budging on their position opposing the bill.  I have to hand it to them, they are doing what they are supposed to do, holding out for the best interest of their constituents, who would undoubtedly be hurt by the legislation.  Congratulation for having a backbone.

Also, after perusing the comments on the post, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of support the rural state was getting.  Sure, their state bet big on one main industry and it is probably crippling them,  but why cause any more pain by helping to disintegrate their economy with unwanted legislation? Why should any elected official get to be the judge of who wins and who loses?

This dilemma exposes the urban to rural divide in extremely poignant moment of world history.  Just when the majority vote of urban citizens thinks they are going to rule the roost, they are reminded of their ignorance by those who ensure the comforts of their existence by working professions many of us see as unfit.  As I wrote in a previous post, our nation cannot simply forget about our rural economy and its huge contribution to our way of life.  So way to go West Viginia and your senators for protecting your own, I can get on board with that.

The American Dream and our Forefathers

I recently checked out a couple of books from the public library with high hopes to learn more about all things rural and agricultural.  It's going to be a big task...I know.  It has already yielded some interesting thoughts that portray the original meaning of the American dream.

The book I have begun reading is "The Law of The Land: Two Hundred Years of American Farmland Policy" by John Opie. The book is a bit older and has definitely lost the new car smell!  But, as with many things in life, I believe there is great value in items from the past.  American culture is so caught up in instant gratification and staying current that we often forget to look right under our nose at what the past has to offer.  I find it this way while choosing books to read.  Many times quality books are passed over simply because of the publish date,  but not this time.  I chose to read an older book and figured it would have some great information regarding the history of our agriculture land laws and  our western expansion.  I was right! Profound thoughts and observations of our nations forefathers shed an interesting light to our rural beginnings and the source point of the infamous American Dream.

The book paints an obvious picture that America was founded on RURAL.  The forefathers of our nation beleived strongly in the powers that land ownership and our ability to work provided to a citizens sense of freedom, character and personal contribution to society.   In fact, this was the American dream for a good portion of the early immigrants that entered the country.  In the book, Opie writes "The ability to buy land was perhaps the greatest attraction of all to the prospective immigrant, particularly in light of the impossibility of doing so in the Old World, even with cash in hand."  The book continues quoting John Wentworth, governor of New Hampshire in 1786, saying "that even the highest wages in the empire, prime working conditions, and full choice employment could not keep people off the farm". 

What!?!  Did I read that correctly?  Couldn't keep people off the farm?  Fast forward to the present and our society has just about done a 180 degree turn.  Rural areas are depopulating at an alarming rate, and why?  It's simple, American's now associate the American Dream with home ownership and high earnings rather than land ownership.  Check out what wikipedia has to say about the American Dream http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream.  Sure, home ownership implies owning a small portion of land, but truly is most often associated with an urban or suburban plot of tract housing. 

After my short foray into this great book, I have stumbled upon a new realization that transforming rural America may have promise in promoting our youth to find freedom in land ownership and the bounty it provides both physically and spiritually.  As I scan my personal experiences, the most liberating ones are usually tied to open space and a little room to breath.  Agricultural advocates are actively promoting reconnecting with the urban consumer.  Why not also become a rural advocate by connecting future generations to the ultimate freedom of land ownership?

Drawing from the suburban experience, its difficult to pin point many friends who really connected with the land.  Instead, we were taught to use our intellect to chase down the urban lifestyle and be successful ($$$).  We were indoctrinated by nice homes, fancy cars and luxuries. With continued endorsement of the American dream as earning six figures and having a home with two cars in the garage, how can expect today's youth to learn something different.  Modern life has provided so many distractions and luxuries that we may have lost our way in finding freedom in ownership of our own small kingdom, a good sized piece of land.  For the price of the automobiles we think we need, we could buy a good sized portion of freedom in rural America.

What are your thoughts?

Local Food and Agritourism: New York Style

This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with a friend that is a true blue New York City,  Manhattan resident.  Many times when agriculture and rural folks discuss those "city" people, New York City residents become the quintessential example.  While driving back from another urban experience in Austin this weekend,  I took the opportunity to pick her brain and ask what's really happening with this local food movement in the big city.

The first question I posed centered on whether the local and organic food movement was really that big of a deal in her everyday life and the lives of those around her. In my view, some of the most fervent supporters of the new profood movement seem to reside in NYC and the east, or at least they get the most press coverage! I figured the topic may be the trend of the moment for a large portion of people.  Therefore, the answer surprised me.  She stated that there are definitely a few fanatics she knows of, but does not see a widespread proliferation in her personal network of friends and coworkers.  In fact, she said that most of the people she runs with aren't even able to find the time for grocery shopping and prefer to shop with an online grocery retailer that delivers her items on her schedule. 

Ok, well that covers the upper income financial sector, but what about the rest?  Here came another shocker. In her own estimation, she and her friends had once decided that a person could not live comfortably on Manhattan Island without making a minimum of 150K per year!  Wow, that's incredible.  In my short life span, that would cover most of the people that I considered well-to-do. With regards to the rural sector of our country, that would just about make you rich! 

So what do these people do with all that money?  My friend let me in on a little secret that the local foodies go nuts over.  It's called Blue Hill Farm.  http://www.bluehillfarm.com/ After checking out the website and the menu, I was blown away.  This is the type of agritourism that most rural residents always talk about, or at the most poke fun of!  I can picture it in my mind "those city people will go out to a farm and pay $135 per meal! It's totally ridiculous!"  The key is that upper class urban residents are thirsty to learn, see and taste what fresh food is like and what rural life has to offer.  While I don't foresee most rural people that trying to profiteer from a fresh grown crop or the simplicity inherent in their lives, it is relevant to note that your lifestyle carries a value and possibly even a luxury price tag. 

When people are so busy with their urban lives and corporate jobs that they are unable to take care of the basic necessity of grocery shopping, the slow and steady pace of rural life becomes almost priceless.  Blue Hill Farms seems to be a little opportunisitc for my simple taste, but it validates many of my suspicions.  Much of the local food movement is perpetuated by an elite crowd with expendible income looking to stay "current" on the latest trend.  However, is it reasonable to continue promoting our rural heritage with luxury price tag although it philisophically clashes with the rural value set?  Capatalism says yes, and for a select few, they are reaping the benefits and paying the dividends.  Possibly a middle ground would provide a better future for rural America while staying true to it's roots.