Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Rural Voices winners!

First Place Video Entry: Sydney Johnson, Beloit Junior-Senior High School, Beloit, KS

First Place Written Entry: David Lutgen, St. John’s Catholic High School, Beloit, KS

View the winning video and read the winning essay below.

Rural Kansas… If I Were in Charge
By David Lutgen

Rural Kansas is a great place to call home. Growing up in Beloit, Kansas, has taught me the values of family, hard work, dedication, thankfulness for my blessings, and giving back to others. I love the small town atmosphere where neighbors are friendly, people know and respect each other, and it is a safe place to raise kids. There are many other positive aspects of rural communities in Kansas; however, changes are needed in order to maintain, or, more importantly, to allow these communities to grow. It is necessary to keep up with the times and be willing to make changes. An unknown author said, “Old ways won’t open new doors.” I believe a good place to start would be to attract young families to rural communities. Without increasing and revitalizing the population, these rural communities will die out.

The current housing market deters young people from moving to rural communities. It is not feasible because it is unaffordable for most. I would start by making affordable housing available. In addition to building affordable homes, it would also be beneficial to repair run-down homes, as well as clean up areas in need of refurbishing. This would not only make more housing available, but would enhance the appearance of rural communities, making them more attractive to potential residents. In 1973, a group of people from a rural community in Texas realized a growing need in their community. Their neighbors’ homes were in disrepair, and the homeowners could not afford to fix them. These individuals volunteered their time and skills to help their struggling neighbors. They realized the good their work was doing and its potential. They began an organization called Rebuilding Together to repair and rebuild homes that had fallen into disrepair. Rebuilding Together is now a nationally recognized non-profit housing organization. Organizations such as this would create an improved rural environment. I would create a volunteer home-repair organization for those who would be willing to help others who are not physically, or financially able to make repairs on their own. People who work in their community also take pride and ownership of it. An attractive housing market would encourage growth and revitalization in rural Kansas.

If affordable housing were available, it would be easier to recruit start-up companies or those seeking to expand. Companies such as Sunflower, Carrico Implement, and Agco have had a positive role in attracting young families to the Beloit, Kansas, community by providing employment to a large percentage of residents in Beloit. Other examples of employment that I would promote would  include: construction (building new housing developments), civil service jobs, financial institutions, and restaurants. With that being said, big chain stores such as Walmart would devastate rural Kansas. Kenneth Stone, a researcher at Iowa State University did a study on the effects that Walmart had on local businesses in rural Iowa. The study compared thirty-four rural Iowa towns that had Walmart stores nearby to fifteen Iowa towns that did not. Populations in these towns ranged from 5,000 to 40,000 persons. The results concluded that some small towns lost up to forty-seven percent of their local retail trade after ten years of having Walmart stores nearby. I would be strongly opposed to allowing businesses such as Walmart to take up residence anywhere near a rural area that is wanting to grow. A business such as Walmart would put local stores out of business, which would have the opposite effect of building up small towns.

Hospitals and/or medical clinics are also key components to a thriving rural community. Not only do they provide employment, but also healthcare close to home. People shouldn’t have to travel long distances to receive medical treatment. Some people may argue that traveling long distances is worth it for quality healthcare. Yes, Mayo Clinic may provide better healthcare than a rural hospital; however, rural hospitals are vital for everyday and emergency needs. Take for example, eighteen-month-old Edith Gonzalez. Edith had a grape lodged in her throat and tragically died in her desperate parents’ arms. Edith’s parents could not reach medical treatment before she passed away, as there was no hospital in their rural Texas county. The problem was simple, yet there was no solution. According to the American Hospital Association, there are about 5,700 hospitals in the country, but they tend to be unevenly distributed–only thirty-five percent are located in rural areas. According to the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, researchers at the University of North Carolina have determined that there are 640 counties across the country without quick access to an acute-care hospital, roughly twenty percent of the nation’s 29,000 residential areas. Tragic situations such as this are very preventable with healthcare close to home. Since the rural environment may not be appealing to many doctors, I would promote a student loan forgiveness incentive for young doctors fresh out of medical school to practice in rural communities. This would be a win-win situation for both rural communities and young doctors. Rural communities would have the opportunity to have healthcare, and young doctors could receive a great start to their career, while not having to worry about their student loans.

Schools are also a priority. Parents should not have to worry about their children receiving a quality education. We can’t produce leaders of tomorrow if we don’t give them a quality education today. I would increase funding for grade schools and high schools to ensure all children receive a quality education. Also, perhaps there could be an incentive for college students to work in a rural community after graduation, if jobs were available to them.

Local shopping and recreational activities also boost the rural environment and economy. Many people shop on the internet or commute long distances to shop. I would encourage competitive pricing in local businesses to entice people to shop locally, keeping money in the community. I would also promote new local business by providing a tax-free incentive for new business owners. Entertainment also plays a role in rural areas. For example, Beloit, Kansas, has a community movie theater, new water park, Chautauqua Park, Isle of Lights during the holiday season, bowling alley, and community concerts. Restaurants are also important to a community. More people than ever before are eating out. Why not bring in quality, affordable eating establishments and keep the money in town? Activities such as school and church functions, county fairs, festivals, barbeques, car shows, parades, farmers markets, and fundraisers also contribute to a small town atmosphere. Recreational activities and restaurants make rural life enjoyable.

A young generation rejuvenates rural communities. A thriving rural community is built around its people. The sense of family, rural atmosphere, and small town values are attractive to young families; however, there is always room for improvement. Rural communities must be willing to change in order to grow. If I were in charge I would provide affordable housing, quality jobs, healthcare, and schools as they are all key components in bringing young families to rural Kansas. Young families are the future of rural Kansas.

Works Cited
Stone, Kenneth “Impact of the Walmart Phenomenon on Rural Communities.” Iowa State
University. Iowa State University. Web. 12 Oct. 2017.

Williams, Joseph “What Happens When a Town’s Only Hospital Shuts Down.” US News and
World Report. US News and World Report, 8 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2017.

About the Contest:  The Rural Voices Youth Contest is sponsored each year by the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) to engage high school seniors in North Central Kansas in thoughtful reflection on rural Kansas and to promote a discussion among citizens based on their insights.

The next contest deadline will be November 15, 2018. Further details will be announced and registration for the 2018-2019 Rural Voices Youth Contest will begin in September 2018.

Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Rural Voices winners!

First Place Video Entry: Isabella Hartman, St. John’s Catholic High School, Beloit, KS
First Place Written Entry: Riley Doebele, Hanover High School, Hanover, KS

Watch the winning video and read the winning essay below.

Rural Kansas…Why it Matters
By Riley Doebele

There is a sense of peacefulness that fills a person when they are surrounded by the beauty of nature. People who live in more urban areas do not have the opportunity to see the beauty of the morning sun as it rises into the sky because there is too much pollution which has filled the sky and too many buildings or objects blocking the sight of it, taking away the allure that exists when it is witnessed in a natural environment. Rather than being able to open the windows while doing the dishes to observe the land while listening to birds chirp while the cool breeze of fresh air permeates the room, people who live in urban areas might have a view of their neighbor’s house or of the busy street. Their ears are filled with buzzing vehicles and the air is tainted. The calming sounds and sights of a trickling stream of water and a mother deer crossing a road with its fawn are nonexistent. They have been replaced with bright, blaring sirens and excruciatingly loud construction work. People in rural areas are blessed with the simple things that others who live in large communities might not even know exist.

The aspect of nature is something I absolutely love and cherish about living in rural Kansas. I love being able to look outside the windows and observe the wonders Almighty God has created for us. I love being able to wake up early on a cold morning to watch the sunrise, the frost glisten on the ground, and the wisps of steam rise from the ponds. I love seeing the clear blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds on a warm summer’s day; with waves of golden wheat rolling in the wind. I love how diverse the seasons are in Kansas. The fact that the weather goes from scorching hot to bitter cold amazes me. We are able to watch the seasons change distinctively from fresh, warm, and lively in the spring with everything blooming to bright, hot, and breezy during the summer. It becomes cool, crisp, and colorful during the autumn season and turns to cold, white, blustery, and enchanting in the winter. People who live in urban communities are still capable of feeling the seasons change but they do not actually see it. They are not able to see the environment change as drastically as they would if they lived in an area that is not as altered as the one they inhabit.

Another reason I love being able to live in rural Kansas is because I adore living in a small community where everyone knows everyone and people like to get involved. Even though this is an extremely small gesture, having someone wave to you while driving by or being able to wave to someone who is walking down the street is always something I look forward to. I look forward to it because it is just something that makes my day; seeing the kindness that people can show towards one another. In large towns people give strange glances if you wave at them. The sense of community which is present in a small town is incredible. In disastrous times people are ready to drop everything and come together to support one another. It does not matter if it is someone you are close to or someone you do not particularly get along with, or even someone who you have never talked to in your life; they will show up to help in times of need. This sense of community is also present during community events. The members of my small community all become involved in community events whether this includes attending the event, donating money, or helping assist in these events. Some of the events that take place in my community is the Days of ‘49 which consists of a carnival, parade, and additional activities. We also have a very impressive firework show which is put on by people who are from our community. Other events that the entire town shuts down for is sporting events. If there is a football or basketball games you can expect almost every member of the community is at the field or in the gym. People look forward to watching the games all week and show the athletes more than enough support. The community is very tight-knit and the kids do everything together. They do activities like, swimming in the ponds, swimming at the pool for hours, sledding, shooting baskets, and riding bikes. Kids are able to develop strong friendships and bonds that will last forever.

Being able to live in a rural area also gives me the opportunity to live on a farm and have experiences with farm animals, farm equipment, and growing crops. Having the background experience of living on a farm is something I would never trade. Being able to work with machinery and being knowledgeable about equipment are life experiences that could come in very handy in certain circumstances. I enjoy being around cattle and like being knowledgeable about agriculture. It has taught me many life lessons and working on the farm is a great way to build a strong work ethic. All of the jobs which need done are not always “fun” tasks but they build character. Not to mention the enjoyment you can receive by living on a farm or in the country. I will never forget the times I was able to watch a calf being born, or being able to bottle feed a baby calf. The times I had to help work cattle or use a blow dryer to try to warm a newborn calf during the winter. I will always remember the times I was able to ride in the combine or tractor with my dad, uncle, and cousins. I will always remember the four wheeler rides and planting and picking the watermelons and pumpkins that we planted in an open spot in a field. I will always remember riding in the back of a pickup with my cousins and the farm dog to go pick mushrooms. I will always remember the times I was able to go play on the sand bar and walk in the river. I will always remember being able to go sledding down the hill at the farm. I will always remember being taken fishing and waking up early in the mornings to drive around and look for deer.

These things should matter to others outside of our geography because these are background experiences that will help people to be successful. They should matter to the people living outside of our geography because we are the backbone of the country. We are the ones who work to provide for our families as well as families across the globe. Without people like us, people across the country wouldn’t have produce like the meats and crops we provide. This is one of the ways that the gap is bridged between the distinct culture of rural Kansas and our neighbors in more urban areas. We raise the livestock, make the grain, and produce ethanol for others to use all across the country. One of the ways we can “reinvent” rural Kansas is by making others informed. By using social media we can easily educate urban individuals on what people in rural Kansas do in their everyday lives as well as promoting and advertising our products. A great example of how social media can help educate others is the Peterson Farm Bros. This group has done well to educate what life is like on the farm; this includes their crops and their cattle. They do so in an entertaining way which has created many global connections for them which could ultimately assist our state to capitalize on future growth. Another way we can reinvent Kansas is to continue to upgrade the technology in our equipment, techniques for growing crops, and medicine for our animals. As technology continues to improve it allows us to work more efficiently in all of these different components.

Everyone has their different likes and dislikes and something I really like is living in rural Kansas. Living on a farm, in the country, or even in a small town might not be ideal for everyone and I’m not saying it should be. I enjoy living in rural Kansas for a number of reasons and that is just my personal opinion. People do not have to enjoy Kansas the way I do, but they should appreciate it. Farmers and Ranchers in rural Kansas do more than some people will ever know and they should be thankful for that. They should be thankful for all that they do and this is the reason rural Kansas should matter to others who live outside of our geography because we are connected in more ways than one would think.

About the Contest:  The Rural Voices Youth Contest is sponsored each year by the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) to engage high school seniors in North Central Kansas in thoughtful reflection on rural Kansas and to promote a discussion among citizens based on their insights.

The next contest deadline will be November 15, 2017. Further details will be announced and registration for the 2017-2018 Rural Voices Youth Contest will begin in September 2017.