What can city people learn from rural folks?
If my own experience is any indication – a TON.
Thanks to a diverse social network that includes interesting people in small towns and rural areas, I’ve learned so much over the last few years about the hopes, dreams, troubles and blissful moments of people who live in what I used to call “out in the middle of nowhere.”
They’re more tech-savvy than you’d think …. I recently found an AgChat Foundation Facebook discussion about the hot new Pinterest social sharing service and how farmers might use it for “agvocacy.”
You know that ongoing discussion about getting broadband internet access out into rural areas? It sure seems similar to efforts in the 1930’s to get electricity and telephone service out to less-populated places, and the same objections are being raised; it’s too expensive, there aren’t enough people to justify it, it’s a “luxury” they don’t really need, etc. I never really thought about this problem until I got to know some small town geeks.
At last fall’s 140 Characters/State of NOW Small Town communications conference in Hutchinson, Kansas, I was honored to be chosen as one of the speakers, and I talked about this personal awakening.
There were some video problems, so all I have for you is the audio recording, but it’s only about 10 minutes and I talk fast. 🙂
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