Think for a minute about some really good things ...

Tending to a newborn calf
The smell of damp soil after an early spring rain
Friendly farm suppliers who go the extra mile
The roar of combines rolling through golden fields
Hometown businesses that see you through
Families working and standing beside one another
The pride of providing food for America’s tables
A place where your name is your word

Whether you live in town or in the country, you enjoy the harvest of those living and working in rural America.  And we have much to enjoy and appreciate.

But, times are changing. Our small towns, businesses and farms face new and challenging problems. Problems like poverty, agricultural market consolidation, an aging population, inadequate healthcare and confusion about how to adapt, change and thrive in this new and difficult world.  Working together we can restore the promise of economic vitality.

RuralUSA.org represents a series of continuing initiatives implemented by the Institute for Rural America.  With the help of donors and volunteers, we have been able to create new programs, new organizations, new conferences and have held roundtable dialogues that have strengthened and enhanced the economic opportunity for numerous rural Americans.

The Institute believes education and information are key to improving our nation’s rural communities.

And we appreciate your support and are proud supporters of rural America and her way of life.

Current initiatives of the RuralUSA* series:

• Enhance and protect new and growing agricultural markets. 

• Protect our farm land from encroachment by industry and incompatible development.

• Educational programs and conferences that inform producers and community leaders about managing the impacts of international trade agreements, and governments decreasing role in agricultural support. 

• Support others. Working together has always characterized rural America and we actively participate with other supporters of rural America by jointly sponsoring and/or cooperating in grant initiatives that support our mission.