Page 106 - Farm Bill Series_The 7 Things You Should Know

In general, value-added
companies create jobs for rural
America and help reverse
population declines. Oftentimes,
these jobs serve as a pathway to
savings or skills that can help some
of those younger residents generate
enough income to take over the next
generation of farms.

However, Klein was quick to point out
to lawmaker another cultural barrier
that could hamper rural job creation –
“fears of change.”

“Concentration issues could very
easily prevent growers from forming
alliances and partnerships with
corporate America,” Klein noted in his
testimony.

Klein didn’t offer specifics, but most
people who live in rural areas understand the complexity. Rural citizens may want new jobs, but
they don’t want just “any” type of farms or companies moving in with promises of job creation.
That’s why attracting new businesses – even with high paying jobs – is somewhat of a slippery
slope.

For example, the prospect for a big new dairy operation or meat processing plant coming into the
area raises red flags about the potential for more immigrant workers and environmental hazards.
And discussion about improving roads, sewers and sidewalks isn’t usually a welcome discussion
for those who live on fixed incomes. Instead of seeing “job creation” they see the potential for a
local tax increase to pay for the improvements.

Another corn grower leader described the dilemma more bluntly when asked to explain the
cultural challenges associated with rural business development.

“Some people want their small town to live only one day longer than they do.”

Building a broader coalition

As Under Secretary of Rural Development under President George W. Bush, Tom Dorr was an
outspoken critic of business as usual. While some saw rural declines, he saw rural opportunities.
One of his outreach efforts was to brand Rural Development as a solution to a multitude of
problems, rather than a set of isolated programs. He knew he needed a broader coalition of
support to make changes.

At one point, he recruited 28 members of organizations that touched both farmers and rural
America for a visit to Europe in an effort to gain understanding and support for the

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