{"id":4552,"date":"2009-06-11T11:57:48","date_gmt":"2009-06-11T17:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4552"},"modified":"2009-06-11T11:57:48","modified_gmt":"2009-06-11T17:57:48","slug":"renewing-the-countryside-five-reasons-why-the-next-generation-can-revitalize-rural-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/renewing-the-countryside-five-reasons-why-the-next-generation-can-revitalize-rural-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewing the Countryside: Five Reasons Why the Next Generation Can Revitalize Rural America"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a>Talk about a recipe for potential disaster.\u00a0 Combine a down economy, changing agriculture practices, rising unemployment and the end result looks grim.\u00a0 But here\u2019s the secret ingredient\u00a0 revitalizing and greening our countryside:\u00a0 young people under 35.<\/p>\n Profiled in the new book, Renewing the Countryside: Youth<\/a><\/em>, this new generation is making their mark on rural areas, from starting new farms to putting out their own entrepreneurial shingle in small towns. <\/strong> Renewing the Countryside: Youth showcases fifty case study stories, one from each state in the United States, cooking up a super-size serving of inspiration for what can be done in similar communities throughout rural America. <\/a><\/p>\n Renewing the Country (RTC),<\/a> a Minnesota-based non-profit organization, specializes in championing such stories, telling the story of the small-scale but big impact individuals and organizations that are creatively crafting livelihoods that positively impact their rural communities. While other RTC books focus on stories within specific states such as Wisconsin<\/a>, this latest book project, published in partnership with the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)<\/a>, uniquely celebrates rural youth.<\/p>\n In addition to the case study stories themselves, the engaging writing and photography also came from a team young artists across the nation. But beyond the inspiring read, this book serves as a starter blueprint for others looking to either return to or plant new roots in rural America, no matter one\u2019s age.\u00a0 Looking at these case study stories collectively, five themes emerge that identify why this particular group of young people are succeeding in the countryside: 1.\u00a0\u00a0 Glass Half Full Vision<\/strong><\/p>\n Maybe it’s all that fresh country air, but the common ingredient among these stories is an overriding sense of optimism to transform their dreams into reality.\u00a0 The common theme behind these case studies isn\u2019t if their vision would succeed, but when and, importantly, how that vision evolved and grew along the way. Perhaps necessity drives this spirit of hope:\u00a0 the individuals profiled in this book realize that the responsibility lies within themselves to create change.\u00a0 As Kathi Wines reflects on her efforts to make ranching a viable career for future generations, she says, \u201cThe younger generation will determine the future of ranching.\u201d<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 Tap Into Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether someone started with deep family farming roots or came into the country lifestyle as a young adult, the people profiled in Renewing the Countryside: Youth<\/a> readily take advantage of the various resources and networks available to support rural enterprises. Many of those raised on farm settings credit their active member in youth groups like 4-H and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) as the reason why they stayed in rural settings.\u00a0 Others, like Jason and Laura Penner of Minnesota, new to raising hogs, participated in the Land Stewardship Project\u2019s Farm Beginnings program, a farmer-led educational training and support program that enabled them to develop a business plan prior to investing capital.\u00a0 Others, like the multi-generational Bauman family farming together in Kansas, applied for and received SARE youth grants funding organic farming research.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Honor Traditional Roots<\/strong><\/p>\n The young people profiled in Renewing the Countryside: Youth<\/a> share a common reverence for the learning and experiences of past rural generations.\u00a0 They readily embrace traditional approaches that still make economic and environmental sense today.\u00a0 Ragan Sutterfield of Arkansas focuses on animal power on his farm, aiming to use pigs to replace his tractor. \u201cWhy use technology when the animals are happy to do the work?\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 Embrace Technology and Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n Honoring tradition approaches to agriculture are balanced with tapping into new technology, making new business upstarts more viable in isolated rural areas.\u00a0 Cain Bond launched Peddlers Bicycle Shop from an Internet connection in his bedroom in rural Indiana; his business has evolved into an enterprise grossing over a million dollars yearly that sells bicycle parts and strollers around the world.<\/p>\n