I grew up on a small family farm in west central Ohio
central Ohio
central Ohio my hometown of st. Paris is the kind of
my hometown of st. Paris is the kind of
my hometown of st. Paris is the kind of place where the County Fair Queen is
place where the County Fair Queen is
place where the County Fair Queen is treated as real royalty and the high
treated as real royalty and the high
treated as real royalty and the high school football quarterback is better
school football quarterback is better
school football quarterback is better known than most Hollywood celebrities
known than most Hollywood celebrities
known than most Hollywood celebrities the election of 2016 has painted rural
the election of 2016 has painted rural
the election of 2016 has painted rural towns as blighted rusted out communities
towns as blighted rusted out communities
towns as blighted rusted out communities with little opportunity for progress I’d
with little opportunity for progress I’d
with little opportunity for progress I’d like to provide a few explanations for
like to provide a few explanations for
like to provide a few explanations for the rising angst in rural America and
the rising angst in rural America and
the rising angst in rural America and also pose a few possible solutions I
also pose a few possible solutions I
also pose a few possible solutions I will soon be the fifth generation to
will soon be the fifth generation to
will soon be the fifth generation to inherit a small portion of my family
inherit a small portion of my family
inherit a small portion of my family farm this is a photo of my late
farm this is a photo of my late
farm this is a photo of my late grandparents Melvin and Phyllis bode who
grandparents Melvin and Phyllis bode who
grandparents Melvin and Phyllis bode who took great care of the farmhouse that
took great care of the farmhouse that
took great care of the farmhouse that they’re pictured here in front of with
they’re pictured here in front of with
they’re pictured here in front of with the intent to pass it down for
the intent to pass it down for
the intent to pass it down for generations to come
generations to come
generations to come however there are a number of things
however there are a number of things
however there are a number of things that separate me from Melvin and Phyllis
that separate me from Melvin and Phyllis
that separate me from Melvin and Phyllis I’m the first in my family to move away
I’m the first in my family to move away
I’m the first in my family to move away from home and the first in my family to
from home and the first in my family to
from home and the first in my family to obtain a college education however I
obtain a college education however I
obtain a college education however I want to emphasize that I am by no means
want to emphasize that I am by no means
want to emphasize that I am by no means unique in this endeavor in fact I am
unique in this endeavor in fact I am
unique in this endeavor in fact I am part of a growing trend that is swept
part of a growing trend that is swept
part of a growing trend that is swept rural America in the last one or two
rural America in the last one or two
rural America in the last one or two generations a trend in which young
generations a trend in which young
generations a trend in which young people move away to the urban center
people move away to the urban center
people move away to the urban center seeking higher education often never to
seeking higher education often never to
seeking higher education often never to return to their small sleepy towns a
return to their small sleepy towns a
return to their small sleepy towns a phenomenon known as the rural brain
phenomenon known as the rural brain
phenomenon known as the rural brain drain imagine the top 30 to 40% of a
drain imagine the top 30 to 40% of a
drain imagine the top 30 to 40% of a high school graduating class in a rural
high school graduating class in a rural
high school graduating class in a rural area
area
area these students are told that they are
these students are told that they are
these students are told that they are destined for greatness
destined for greatness
destined for greatness perhaps they excel in academics or
perhaps they excel in academics or
perhaps they excel in academics or extracurricular activities these
extracurricular activities these
extracurricular activities these students are put on a path for college
students are put on a path for college
students are put on a path for college prep they often find themselves moving
prep they often find themselves moving
prep they often find themselves moving to the cities seeking higher education
to the cities seeking higher education
to the cities seeking higher education and once there experience diversity
and once there experience diversity
and once there experience diversity unlike they’ve seen before not just
unlike they’ve seen before not just
unlike they’ve seen before not just diversity in race or religion or ethnic
diversity in race or religion or ethnic
diversity in race or religion or ethnic affiliation sexual identity but also in
affiliation sexual identity but also in
affiliation sexual identity but also in diversity of Economic Opportunity
diversity of Economic Opportunity
diversity of Economic Opportunity they’re exposed to higher paying jobs
they’re exposed to higher paying jobs
they’re exposed to higher paying jobs that perhaps themselves and their
that perhaps themselves and their
that perhaps themselves and their parents have yet to see in their young
parents have yet to see in their young
parents have yet to see in their young lives young people who move away often
lives young people who move away often
lives young people who move away often can find it difficult to return to a
can find it difficult to return to a
can find it difficult to return to a place that is perhaps stuck in the times
place that is perhaps stuck in the times
place that is perhaps stuck in the times when
when
when comes to social progress I know for me
comes to social progress I know for me
comes to social progress I know for me coming out as a gay woman was a surefire
coming out as a gay woman was a surefire
coming out as a gay woman was a surefire way for me to be the topic of
way for me to be the topic of
way for me to be the topic of conversation in the local diner for at
conversation in the local diner for at
conversation in the local diner for at least the next year but those who choose
least the next year but those who choose
least the next year but those who choose to stay behind face their own slew of
to stay behind face their own slew of
to stay behind face their own slew of problems these young people may be
problems these young people may be
problems these young people may be working multiple minimum-wage jobs to
working multiple minimum-wage jobs to
working multiple minimum-wage jobs to get by perhaps they’re commuting long
get by perhaps they’re commuting long
get by perhaps they’re commuting long distances to one of the few
distances to one of the few
distances to one of the few manufacturing jobs left or maybe they’re
manufacturing jobs left or maybe they’re
manufacturing jobs left or maybe they’re drowning in millions of dollars in farm
drowning in millions of dollars in farm
drowning in millions of dollars in farm loan debt trying to keep alive the
loan debt trying to keep alive the
loan debt trying to keep alive the promise and tradition of their family
promise and tradition of their family
promise and tradition of their family farm what’s more is as it becomes
farm what’s more is as it becomes
farm what’s more is as it becomes difficult to attract and retain talented
difficult to attract and retain talented
difficult to attract and retain talented teachers public school systems begin to
teachers public school systems begin to
teachers public school systems begin to fail and sometimes close as the
fail and sometimes close as the
fail and sometimes close as the population ages there are fewer left to
population ages there are fewer left to
population ages there are fewer left to take care of the rural elderly what’s
take care of the rural elderly what’s
take care of the rural elderly what’s more is as those young people move away
more is as those young people move away
more is as those young people move away there are a few people left to run
there are a few people left to run
there are a few people left to run successful small businesses the
successful small businesses the
successful small businesses the heartbeat of a rural economy they also
heartbeat of a rural economy they also
heartbeat of a rural economy they also choose not to take on the family farm
choose not to take on the family farm
choose not to take on the family farm selling it off into larger and larger
selling it off into larger and larger
selling it off into larger and larger corporate agriculture operations but
corporate agriculture operations but
corporate agriculture operations but perhaps the most tragic is when rural
perhaps the most tragic is when rural
perhaps the most tragic is when rural Americans turn to the promise of a pill
Americans turn to the promise of a pill
Americans turn to the promise of a pill or a pipe or syringe to escape the
or a pipe or syringe to escape the
or a pipe or syringe to escape the economic hardship they never imagined
economic hardship they never imagined
economic hardship they never imagined that they would have to endure I
that they would have to endure I
that they would have to endure I strongly believe that the unraveling of
strongly believe that the unraveling of
strongly believe that the unraveling of rural America is the great silent
rural America is the great silent
rural America is the great silent tragedy of our time but the rural brain
tragedy of our time but the rural brain
tragedy of our time but the rural brain drain has a profound impact on two
drain has a profound impact on two
drain has a profound impact on two things I care deeply about agriculture
things I care deeply about agriculture
things I care deeply about agriculture and politics starting first with
and politics starting first with
and politics starting first with agriculture we know that in the last 30
agriculture we know that in the last 30
agriculture we know that in the last 30 to 40 years our food system has become
to 40 years our food system has become
to 40 years our food system has become more and more consolidated as farmers
more and more consolidated as farmers
more and more consolidated as farmers who were once producing diverse ranges
who were once producing diverse ranges
who were once producing diverse ranges of crops and products like my own family
of crops and products like my own family
of crops and products like my own family farm where there was once dairy and
farm where there was once dairy and
farm where there was once dairy and vegetables and corn and wheat and
vegetables and corn and wheat and
vegetables and corn and wheat and soybeans these farmers are forced into
soybeans these farmers are forced into
soybeans these farmers are forced into monoculture crops just to keep the
monoculture crops just to keep the
monoculture crops just to keep the lights on what’s more is these ventures
lights on what’s more is these ventures
lights on what’s more is these ventures are forced to grow to larger and larger
are forced to grow to larger and larger
are forced to grow to larger and larger sizes with greater implements in order
sizes with greater implements in order
sizes with greater implements in order to maintain a profit margin that’s worth
to maintain a profit margin that’s worth
to maintain a profit margin that’s worth keeping furthermore it’s nearly
keeping furthermore it’s nearly
keeping furthermore it’s nearly impossible for young people to start
impossible for young people to start
impossible for young people to start farming in America the capital
farming in America the capital
farming in America the capital investment is
investment is
investment is simply to great and without access to
simply to great and without access to
simply to great and without access to that capital young people who wish to
that capital young people who wish to
that capital young people who wish to become stewards of the land be it those
become stewards of the land be it those
become stewards of the land be it those who have moved off into the urban
who have moved off into the urban
who have moved off into the urban centers in wish to return or those who
centers in wish to return or those who
centers in wish to return or those who have never lived in a rural community
have never lived in a rural community
have never lived in a rural community before it’s very difficult for them to
before it’s very difficult for them to
before it’s very difficult for them to do so as the urban centers cry out for
do so as the urban centers cry out for
do so as the urban centers cry out for local and diverse and sustainable food
local and diverse and sustainable food
local and diverse and sustainable food there are a few young people left to
there are a few young people left to
there are a few young people left to take on those risks or who are simply
take on those risks or who are simply
take on those risks or who are simply able to do so what’s more is that the
able to do so what’s more is that the
able to do so what’s more is that the rural brain-drain has a profound impact
rural brain-drain has a profound impact
rural brain-drain has a profound impact on politics as we’ve seen in the
on politics as we’ve seen in the
on politics as we’ve seen in the election of 2016
election of 2016
election of 2016 political polarization in the United
political polarization in the United
political polarization in the United States has increased and I would argue
States has increased and I would argue
States has increased and I would argue that the flight of young people from
that the flight of young people from
that the flight of young people from rural America has a lot to do with it
rural America has a lot to do with it
rural America has a lot to do with it with less diverse perspectives and fewer
with less diverse perspectives and fewer
with less diverse perspectives and fewer young people available in rural
young people available in rural
young people available in rural communities to be voters and civic
communities to be voters and civic
communities to be voters and civic leaders there are fewer people who are
leaders there are fewer people who are
leaders there are fewer people who are able to take on new ideas of progressive
able to take on new ideas of progressive
able to take on new ideas of progressive change but it’s not just national
change but it’s not just national
change but it’s not just national politics that are impacted who will run
politics that are impacted who will run
politics that are impacted who will run for County Commissioner or the local
for County Commissioner or the local
for County Commissioner or the local school board if there’s not the next
school board if there’s not the next
school board if there’s not the next generation of young agriculturalists and
generation of young agriculturalists and
generation of young agriculturalists and young business leaders in rural America
young business leaders in rural America
young business leaders in rural America Thomas Jefferson freely wrote of a rural
Thomas Jefferson freely wrote of a rural
Thomas Jefferson freely wrote of a rural America that was maintained by farmers
America that was maintained by farmers
America that was maintained by farmers farmers see an investment in their
farmers see an investment in their
farmers see an investment in their community as an investment in their
community as an investment in their
community as an investment in their business these are the people who will
business these are the people who will
business these are the people who will wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning to
wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning to
wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning to bottle-feed a calf and stay up until
bottle-feed a calf and stay up until
bottle-feed a calf and stay up until midnight at the school board meeting
midnight at the school board meeting
midnight at the school board meeting because they see this investment unravel
because they see this investment unravel
because they see this investment unravel day in and day out in their daily lives
day in and day out in their daily lives
day in and day out in their daily lives I wish I could say that I had one
I wish I could say that I had one
I wish I could say that I had one solution for the growing issues in rural
solution for the growing issues in rural
solution for the growing issues in rural America but I think there are certainly
America but I think there are certainly
America but I think there are certainly a few places that we can get started as
a few places that we can get started as
a few places that we can get started as the national conversation around rural
the national conversation around rural
the national conversation around rural communities really begins to
communities really begins to
communities really begins to reinvigorate itself first there’s a lot
reinvigorate itself first there’s a lot
reinvigorate itself first there’s a lot we can do when it comes to our food
we can do when it comes to our food
we can do when it comes to our food system thankfully our country has
system thankfully our country has
system thankfully our country has decided that investing and local and
decided that investing and local and
decided that investing and local and sustainable food and a more diverse food
sustainable food and a more diverse food
sustainable food and a more diverse food system is now socially desirable and I
system is now socially desirable and I
system is now socially desirable and I applaud all of us for that however
applaud all of us for that however
applaud all of us for that however buying local food and investing in local
buying local food and investing in local
buying local food and investing in local food systems shouldn’t just be a feel
food systems shouldn’t just be a feel
food systems shouldn’t just be a feel good thing for ourselves that we’re
good thing for ourselves that we’re
good thing for ourselves that we’re somehow putting something better on our
somehow putting something better on our
somehow putting something better on our plate it should be seen as an economic
plate it should be seen as an economic
plate it should be seen as an economic investment
investment
investment for the kinds of places like my hometown
for the kinds of places like my hometown
for the kinds of places like my hometown places that need that economic boost
places that need that economic boost
places that need that economic boost more than anyone else I would also argue
more than anyone else I would also argue
more than anyone else I would also argue that by investing in small farmers and
that by investing in small farmers and
that by investing in small farmers and in young farmers
in young farmers
in young farmers we also invigorate rural economies
we also invigorate rural economies
we also invigorate rural economies perhaps we could begin to invest in
perhaps we could begin to invest in
perhaps we could begin to invest in diversified loan programs or grant
diversified loan programs or grant
diversified loan programs or grant programs for young people who want to
programs for young people who want to
programs for young people who want to start farming maybe a young woman could
start farming maybe a young woman could
start farming maybe a young woman could transform a sleepy close small-town
transform a sleepy close small-town
transform a sleepy close small-town storefront into an innovative kitchen
storefront into an innovative kitchen
storefront into an innovative kitchen space to produce cottage products for
space to produce cottage products for
space to produce cottage products for Ohio’s farmers markets maybe we will be
Ohio’s farmers markets maybe we will be
Ohio’s farmers markets maybe we will be able to transform land to begin growing
able to transform land to begin growing
able to transform land to begin growing hops for Ohio’s craft beer industry or
hops for Ohio’s craft beer industry or
hops for Ohio’s craft beer industry or perhaps by investing in broadband
perhaps by investing in broadband
perhaps by investing in broadband internet access we can expand services
internet access we can expand services
internet access we can expand services like blue apron to include local Ohio
like blue apron to include local Ohio
like blue apron to include local Ohio products at faster paces with the
products at faster paces with the
products at faster paces with the greater economic impact on Ohio farmers
greater economic impact on Ohio farmers
greater economic impact on Ohio farmers but furthermore there’s a lot we can do
but furthermore there’s a lot we can do
but furthermore there’s a lot we can do when it comes to politics by investing
when it comes to politics by investing
when it comes to politics by investing in young farmers I would argue we invest
in young farmers I would argue we invest
in young farmers I would argue we invest in their communities as well again not
in their communities as well again not
in their communities as well again not just nationally but those who are going
just nationally but those who are going
just nationally but those who are going to be a volunteer at the local public
to be a volunteer at the local public
to be a volunteer at the local public library or those who take on the role of
library or those who take on the role of
library or those who take on the role of PTO president I strongly believe that
PTO president I strongly believe that
PTO president I strongly believe that rural America will begin to see a new
rural America will begin to see a new
rural America will begin to see a new wave of economic invigoration
wave of economic invigoration
wave of economic invigoration thanks to the investment in agriculture
thanks to the investment in agriculture
thanks to the investment in agriculture but those of us who perhaps are a little
but those of us who perhaps are a little
but those of us who perhaps are a little bit disconnected from a rural community
bit disconnected from a rural community
bit disconnected from a rural community perhaps we’ve never lived there
perhaps we’ve never lived there
perhaps we’ve never lived there or have long taken apart from our rural
or have long taken apart from our rural
or have long taken apart from our rural cousins as those who don’t deserve our
cousins as those who don’t deserve our
cousins as those who don’t deserve our attention will begin to elevate them to
attention will begin to elevate them to
attention will begin to elevate them to the national political conversation
the national political conversation
the national political conversation these folks have unfortunately been left
these folks have unfortunately been left
these folks have unfortunately been left out of the conversation unless they are
out of the conversation unless they are
out of the conversation unless they are a ploy for winning a national election
a ploy for winning a national election
a ploy for winning a national election and then simply walking away from them I
and then simply walking away from them I
and then simply walking away from them I would argue that neither party truly
would argue that neither party truly
would argue that neither party truly represents rural America and that both
represents rural America and that both
represents rural America and that both have a significant amount of work to do
have a significant amount of work to do
have a significant amount of work to do if those of us in the room who want to
if those of us in the room who want to
if those of us in the room who want to be a part of the party of righting
be a part of the party of righting
be a part of the party of righting inequalities have to start to take
inequalities have to start to take
inequalities have to start to take action in rural communities as well but
action in rural communities as well but
action in rural communities as well but furthermore as a university we have
furthermore as a university we have
furthermore as a university we have obligations as well the Ohio State
obligations as well the Ohio State
obligations as well the Ohio State University has a presence and nearly
University has a presence and nearly
University has a presence and nearly every
every
every in the state of Ohio thanks to the
in the state of Ohio thanks to the
in the state of Ohio thanks to the Cooperative Extension system and we must
Cooperative Extension system and we must
Cooperative Extension system and we must continue to invest in Cooperative
continue to invest in Cooperative
continue to invest in Cooperative Extension
Extension
Extension thanks to this week and assimilate
thanks to this week and assimilate
thanks to this week and assimilate research that happens here at the
research that happens here at the
research that happens here at the University into every county in the
University into every county in the
University into every county in the state of Ohio be it that we disseminate
state of Ohio be it that we disseminate
state of Ohio be it that we disseminate research in clean energy technology to
research in clean energy technology to
research in clean energy technology to invest in the next generation of rural
invest in the next generation of rural
invest in the next generation of rural jobs or in agriculture or civic research
jobs or in agriculture or civic research
jobs or in agriculture or civic research as well the Ohio State University has an
as well the Ohio State University has an
as well the Ohio State University has an obligation to its land-grant mission and
obligation to its land-grant mission and
obligation to its land-grant mission and we must continue to adhere to that
we must continue to adhere to that
we must continue to adhere to that mission but finally I have obligations
mission but finally I have obligations
mission but finally I have obligations of my own obligations to my country and
of my own obligations to my country and
of my own obligations to my country and obligations to my grandparents Melvin
obligations to my grandparents Melvin
obligations to my grandparents Melvin and Phyllis they took great care and
and Phyllis they took great care and
and Phyllis they took great care and passing on their family farm because
passing on their family farm because
passing on their family farm because they knew that being an agricultural
they knew that being an agricultural
they knew that being an agricultural list and an active member of civic
list and an active member of civic
list and an active member of civic society was the greatest role in
society was the greatest role in
society was the greatest role in American could take on and I have to say
American could take on and I have to say
American could take on and I have to say that I strongly agree with them in fact
that I strongly agree with them in fact
that I strongly agree with them in fact I would say if Melvin and Phyllis had it
I would say if Melvin and Phyllis had it
I would say if Melvin and Phyllis had it their way I would move home and farm for
their way I would move home and farm for
their way I would move home and farm for the rest of my life in their beautiful
the rest of my life in their beautiful
the rest of my life in their beautiful little farmhouse but I think that I can
little farmhouse but I think that I can
little farmhouse but I think that I can live in both worlds I think as I move in
live in both worlds I think as I move in
live in both worlds I think as I move in to this precipice this next part of my
to this precipice this next part of my
to this precipice this next part of my life I can be a farmer and also make
life I can be a farmer and also make
life I can be a farmer and also make positive public change on a national
positive public change on a national
positive public change on a national scale on a state scale on a local scale
scale on a state scale on a local scale
scale on a state scale on a local scale and I would ask many of you in the room
and I would ask many of you in the room
and I would ask many of you in the room to consider doing the same consider
to consider doing the same consider
to consider doing the same consider elevating rural communities to the
elevating rural communities to the
elevating rural communities to the greater conversation they are one of the
greater conversation they are one of the
greater conversation they are one of the few places where everyone is your
few places where everyone is your
few places where everyone is your neighbor and the American Dream still
neighbor and the American Dream still
neighbor and the American Dream still lives and is hung on to by everyone who
lives and is hung on to by everyone who
lives and is hung on to by everyone who lives there I would ask each of you to
lives there I would ask each of you to
lives there I would ask each of you to reconsider the way that you talk about
reconsider the way that you talk about
reconsider the way that you talk about your rural counterparts and perhaps
your rural counterparts and perhaps
your rural counterparts and perhaps begin to elevate them into your own
begin to elevate them into your own
begin to elevate them into your own conversations ask questions about how
conversations ask questions about how
conversations ask questions about how you can include them in your next great
you can include them in your next great
you can include them in your next great idea I know that for me I will be
idea I know that for me I will be
idea I know that for me I will be working day in and day out to preserve
working day in and day out to preserve
working day in and day out to preserve these communities and will stay
these communities and will stay
these communities and will stay alongside them in their pursuit for the
alongside them in their pursuit for the
alongside them in their pursuit for the American dream thank you
American dream thank you
American dream thank you [Applause]
”
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