Rural Leaders Unite for Stronger Communities

By Blake Jackson

More than 60 rural advocates, including voices from Wisconsin, met in Des Moines, Iowa, for the Rural Policy Action Summit. Their goal was to share ideas, build solutions, and highlight urgent needs facing rural communities across the country.

Michael Chameides, policy director at the Rural Democracy Initiative, noted that families, small business owners, and farmers are working hard—but need more support. He said communities should not have to fight so hard just to keep basic services.

A Wisconsin success story was shared at the summit. Residents campaigned to stop the privatization of a county-run nursing home. Locals valued the care provided and wanted to keep it public. Their efforts paid off, showing that rural communities can take action, though they shouldn’t have to battle for essential services.

"The residents really liked that nursing home. They felt like they gave good care, and they didn't want it to be sold off, and they were worried about the kind of care that would happen," said Chameides. "So they ran a campaign to protect their nursing home and make sure that the board of supervisors in Wisconsin didn't privatize it."

He warned that reducing rural funding breaks trust with small farmers and working families. Many rural programs could be weakened or lost if leaders don’t act carefully.

"They're talking about cutting health care, cutting education, they're breaking contracts that they already have with small farmers," said Chameides. "They're talking about giving away public land, which is often sort of a key part of our rural communities, and just generally gutting the programs that support rural people."

The summit sent a clear message: rural communities are ready to lead, but they need policies that support their work and respect their needs. With cooperation and good policy, rural America can thrive.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski