EntER uRAl FFAiRs for - Center for Rural Affairs

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Annual Report Issue
Center for
Rural Affairs
Lyons, NE
March 2009
Newsletter
population 963
Surveying national events affecting rural America since 1973.
With Diligence and Integrity, Center Achieves Much in 2008
T
he Center for Rural Affairs
worked with diligence and
fought with integrity in 2008
to create genuine opportunity for
rural people and a better future for
our communities, while protecting
the land and environment for our
children and grandchildren.
We did not overcome every challenge. But we achieved a lot, as
you’ll learn from reading the articles in this newsletter. We stood
strong for the values and principles
that define the best in rural America and that the Center represents
– fairness, citizen responsibility,
and a commitment to progress that
serves the common good.
And we worked to extend the
proven tradition that has strengthened our rural communities and
nation – ownership of businesses,
farms and ranches by those who
work them.
Every year the Center strives to
get better; to become the leader
in creating a better future for rural people and communities. That
drives us forward. In the past year
Working with many grassroots supporters and
organizational allies, we won the only new funded rural
development program in the farm bill.
we produced positive
ter remains a leading
results while strengthsource of news and
ening our capacperspective for those
ity to work with
who care about
rural Americans
rural America.
to together take
Working with
control of our
many
grassroots supportdestiny.
ers and organiThe
Center
zational
allies,
has become the
we
won
the
only
leading voice for
new
funded
rurural America in
ral
development
the regional and
program in the
national news
farm
bill, in admedia.
From
dition
to critical
the Scottsbluff
new
support
for
Star Herald and
beginning farmers
the Des Moines
and conservation.
Register to The
We lost our bid
W a s h i n g t o n The Center has become
to win meanPost and Clear the leading voice for rural America in the ingful limits on
regional and national news media.
Channel Radio,
payments
to
we’ve brought
mega farms.
the voice and concerns of rural
—See Center in 2008 on page 3.
America to the nation. This newslet-
Development Matters
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Microenterprise at Nebraska
State Capitol
Success of REAP Creates or
Retains 320 Jobs
Looking for a Speaker?
Farm Payment Limits Inside USDA
Successes & Challenges
in 2008 Farm Policy
Rural Funding In Federal Stimulus
From the Blog: Digital TV
Donors
Health Care in Rural America
Leadership Development Key in
Center’s Community Development
2
2
3
4
4
5
5
6
11
12
What’s the Newsletter Annual Report Issue?
T
his month’s newsletter is a bit different. It is larger to make room
for the names of everyone who contributed financially to our
work between January 1 and December 31, 2008. And we have
taken this opportunity to reflect on last year as well as look out at
what may come in the year ahead. We include news too, of course.
However, before reading the articles, we hope you will examine the
list of individuals who gave generously to support our work last year
on pages 6-10. The 1,936 listed there each helped provide the Center’s
most important resource. Individual contributions provide the unrestricted funding that supports our most crucial, timely and innovative
work.
Each of the last three years, the list of Center donors has grown. We
will work hard to ensure that happens again this year. If you have not
yet given in 2009, we hope you will make a gift today and renew your
newsletter for another year.
2
Center for Rural Affairs
Microenterprise
at the Nebraska
State Capitol
Senator Galen Hadley
has introduced LB 419 to
remove the $2 million cumulative limit on the Microenterprise Investment
Tax Credit for businesses
with up to five employees.
The credit is capped at
$10,000 per person. While
microenterprise accounts
for 1 out of every 6 jobs in
Nebraska, it receives only
1 out of every 75 dollars
spent on job creation tax
incentives.
Small business is always important in the
rural economy, but it is
especially critical during economic downturns.
During our last recession,
from 2000 to 2003, microenterprise employment
in Nebraska grew by nearly 5 percent while all other
nonfarm employment fell.
This newsletter is available both electronically and
in print. To receive it online, sign up at the Center’s
website, www.cfra.org, or
email us at [email protected].
You may also correct your mailing address
and fax the back page to
402.687.2200, or call Kim
Kaup at the Center for Rural Affairs, 402.687.2100.
Editor: Marie Powell
Layout: Casey Francis
Printed with agri-based
ink on recycled paper at West
Point News, West Point, NE.
March 2009
Success of REAP Helped
Create or Retain 320 Jobs
T
he Rural Enterprise Assistance ter months of working on a business
Project (REAP), a program of plan with REAP Business Specialist,
the Center for Rural Affairs, Dena Beck, Larry was approved by a
works with startup and existing small local bank for a loan to expand his
businesses with five
business to a new
or fewer employees
location in Broken
across rural NebrasBow.
ka. Begun in 1990,
The
expansion
REAP is the state’s
will allow LB Cuslargest full-service
tom Chrome and
microenterprise deDetail to add two
velopment program.
additional jobs, toREAP offers small
taling one part-time
business manageand two full-time.
ment training, netThe assistance Larworking, one-on-one
ry received through
technical assistance
REAP has been a
and small loans.
difference
makREAP once again
er, and REAP is
had an exceptional
very proud to have
year helping small
played a part in the
business. The staff
successful expanreached large numsion of Larry’s busibers of rural enness!
trepreneurs
(over Larry Harbour established LB Custom
And, back to
2,000) and placed Chrome and Detail, LLC, in Broken those
numbers:
a lot of micro loans Bow, Nebraska, as a side job in 2001 from October 1,
and officially in 2006. The business, like
(45). REAP’s Wom2007 to September
over 10,000 other micro businesses,
en’s Business Cen- received support from REAP.
30, 2008, the REAP
ter and Hispanic
program:
Business
Center
•
Trained
or
also continued to expand their procounseled over 2,000 entrepregramming and services.
neurs.
Although the numbers are impres•Placed 45 loans totaling $429,491
sive, the people are what inspires the
and leveraged an additional
staff. Larry Harbour received REAP
$635,150 from other sources due
assistance in 2008. Larry established
to REAP assistance.
LB Custom Chrome and Detail, LLC,
•Helped to create or retain 320
in Broken Bow, Nebraska, as a side
jobs.
job in 2001 and officially in 2006.
Since 1990, REAP has provided
Larry and his wife moved to Bro- business development services to
ken Bow from Omaha in 1998. Like over 10,000 micro businesses. Hismany entrepreneurs, Larry decided torically, REAP has placed 616 loans
to take a risk by renting a shop in a totaling $4,478,346 while also ledowntown location in Broken Bow in veraging an additional $9,872,805
October 2006. The risk paid off. For from other sources due to REAP asthe first year, Larry’s detailing busi- sistance.
ness had a 1-2 month wait list, and
Questions or comments about REAP
the business was off and rolling.
In the winter of 2007, Larry heard can be addressed to Jeff Reynolds, REAP
about REAP office hours at the Bro- Program Director at 402.656.3091 or jeffr@
cfra.org.
ken Bow Chamber of Commerce and
decided to make an appointment. Af-
March 2009
Center for Rural Affairs
3
Center in 2008, continued from page 1.
But we spoke forcefully from the
District of Columbia to the Dakotas
on the moral bankruptcy of agricultural politics that favor subsidizing mega farms to drive smaller
operations out of business instead
of investing in the future of rural
America.
We’re educating policymakers
with our analysis of the unique
rural challenges for health care
finance reform in rural America,
where coverage and income are lower and self employment and small
business employment are higher.
Equally important, we’re helping
rural Americans understand the
choices and engage in the debate.
Our REAP program reached new
milestones as rural America’s leading program providing loans, training and assistance to microenterprise – owner-operated businesses
with up to five employees. Last year
REAP trained and counseled over
2,000 entrepreneurs and placed
or leveraged over $1 M in loans
to microenterprises. REAP also
surpassed $4 M in loans directly
placed with rural entrepreneurs
and 10,000 businesses served since
its inception.
The Center’s work with rural
communities is testing cuttingedge approaches to development
– including ecotourism, renewable
energy, and drawing professionals
back to their hometowns to launch
Internet-based
microbusinesses
providing services to distant busi-
nesses. Our annual Marketplace the intended results. We’re making
event drew 600 people to explore additions to ensure our board reentrepreneurial opportunities in flects the rural people we serve, inrural America.
cluding women and Latinos, while
We also conduct our internal strengthening critical expertise in
affairs with integrity. Our fiscal organizational leadership, grassmanagement
roots engageis sound and
ment,
and
The Center’s work with legal and ficonservative. Reserves
rural communities is testing nancial mandeliberately
agement.
cutting-edge approaches to
built over two
The
Cendecades
are
ter
for
Rural
development.
in place to
Affairs is not
help carry us
just the staff
through
the
and
board.
current fiscal
It’s also each
To stay up-to-date on the Center’s
downturn.
of you workactivities, be sure to explore our
We’ve creing in your
website, www.cfra.org.
ated a culture
community,
within
the
contacting
CFRA.org
provides
information
Center
that
policymakers,
about entrepreneurship, community
reflects
our
engaging your
values and ofneighbors
development, beginning farmer and
fers staff the
and donating.
rancher opportunities, and rural
opportunity
Without you,
and agricultural policy. This isn’t to
to work for
we can accommention our widely read Blog for
shared
conplish little.
Rural America,
victions with
spewww.cfra.org/blog. cialThis annual
supportive coworkers. We
report newshold ourselves
letter issue is
accountable to high standards in our report to you. We hope it demour work and to interact with co- onstrates the value of your investworkers in a way that recognizes ment of time and money in us. And
their value and elevates overall mo- we hope it inspires you to keep up
rale.
the fight to build a better future in
A talented and dedicated board rural America.
of directors guides the Center’s
– Chuck Hassebrook,
work, establishes its general plan
Executive Director
and evaluates success in achieving
Looking for a Speaker or Presenter
for Your Upcoming Conference or Event?
Would you like to find out more about the impact of the 2008 farm bill
and other crucial issues facing rural America? How about wind energy
or organic agriculture? Do you have member organizations who want to
jump into the health care debate? Let us know!
Center for Rural Affairs’ staff speak at events all over the country, and
we’d be happy to discuss a visit by one of our staff to your upcoming function. Contact Elisha Greeley Smith, [email protected] or 402.687.2103 x
1007 to explore the options.
4
Center for Rural Affairs
March 2009
Farm Payment Limitations Inside USDA
N
ew Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is re- participate in quarterly conference calls, with each takviewing a rule issued by the outgoing adminis- ing responsibility for one topic on the call. One investor
tration to redefine what is required to be consid- would take responsibility for financial statements, anered an active farmer and eligible
other purchase plans, etc.
to receive farm payments.
Senators Byron Dorgan and
The standard became so lax Chuck Grassley are seeking a
The standard became so lax in
recent years that investors were
in recent years that investors higher standard requiring each
considered actively involved in
partner to either work half time
were considered actively in the operation or provide at
farm management by virtue of
participating in two conference
involved in farm management least half of the management on
calls annually. That allowed mega
his/her share of the operation,
by virtue of participating in two including supervising employfarms to get unlimited payments
by forming general partnerships
ees, scheduling field operations,
conference calls annually.
with investor partners, each qualetc. We agree with them. Each of
ifying the farm for another set of
these proposals appropriately alpayments up to the limit.
lows crop share landlords to receive payments on crops
The rule proposed in December is not much stronger, received as rent without being active in management.
so we are pleased that Secretary Vilsack is reviewing
it. It would qualify investors as active farmers if they Contact: Chuck Hassebrook, [email protected] or 402.687.2103 x
1018 for more information.
Successes and Challenges in 2008 Farm Policy
I
n 2008, the Center continued to
lead the fight for increased investment in rural development,
beginning farmer and conservation
programs, and stronger limits on
farm payments going to the largest
farms.
Ultimately, as we reported in our
newsletter last June, we lost our battle over payment limitation reform,
but we won new investment in rural
development, beginning farmer and
conservation programs.
For starters, we won funding for
the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, a competitive grants
program that supports technical
assistance, business planning and
loans for rural entrepreneurs. Efforts
are underway to increase funding for
the program from its current $4 million annually.
We also won $18 million in annual funding for the Beginning Farmer
and Rancher Development Program,
a competitive grants program that
supports training, mentoring, marketing and other educational opportunities as well as linking retiring
and beginning farmers.
Since the farm bill passed, we have
continued to work with our allies to
ensure the programs we did win are
implemented properly. USDA is writing rules and regulations for these
programs, and we are providing them
with ideas on how to implement the
programs in a way that works for rural America.
We presented our thoughts to
USDA when they held listening sessions on the new programs. We believe the rural microentrepreneur
program needs to direct some funding
towards capacity building projects,
particularly in rural areas and states
that are currently underserved by existing rural small business development organizations. We also believe
it is critical to launch this program
quickly considering the state of the
economy and the increased demand
for rural small business services.
With the beginning farmer and
rancher program, we are advocating
that the funds are invested in projects that focus on strategies we know
are working for beginning farmers
such as high-value, niche markets
where they can start small with limited debt and earn more per acre or
animal.
We are also leading the charge to
ensure the Value Added Producer
Grants Program places a priority on
projects from small and mid-size fam-
ily farmers and ranchers. Their proposed rule fell short on this front, so
we are working to turn that around.
Even payment limitation reform
is back on the table with a new administration. In the coming months,
USDA will define what constitutes an
active farmer who is eligible for payments, which is currently too loosely
defined (see the article Farm Payment
Limitations inside USDA above.). The
solution is simple. USDA must write
a rule that requires a person to either work half time on the farm or
else provide half the labor or half the
management on the farm to qualify
as a farmer.
We are also encouraging the new
administration to use the Cooperative Conservation Partnerships Initiative to fund projects that bring
conservation and rural community
development objectives together as
compatible goals.
We look forward to you sticking
with us and helping us to ensure
that these and other policy issues
truly support family farming, rural
communities and our natural environment.
For more information, contact Traci
Bruckner, [email protected] or 402.687.2103
x 1016.
March 2009
Rural Funding in the
Federal Stimulus Bill
T
he new legislation provides rural
economic stimulus, including:
• $20 million for USDA direct
farm operation loans, with half
targeted to beginning farmers.
• $30 million for the Small Business Administration program
that funds loans, training and
technical assistance to rural
and urban microenterprises.
These are owner-operated business with up to five employees.
• Funds for rural water and sewer
grants, housing, community facilities, and most significantly,
$2.5 million for getting internet
broadband to underserved rural
areas.
• $20 million for Rural Business
Enterprise Grants, which support entrepreneurial projects
including small business development and value added agriculture.
• An additional $500 million for
the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program to meet
growing food assistance needs
among low-income families and
forestall cuts in critical rural
development, beginning farmer, and sustainable agriculture
programs to fund the nutrition
program.
• Funding for renewable energy,
energy efficiency and updating
the national electricity grid, a
portion of which will prompt new
rural opportunities in wind, biofuels and energy conservation.
The stimulus bill did not include
other proposals we supported such as
funding for the new USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program or
a new federal microenterprise tax credit.
Nothing was included for land loans to
beginning farmers and ranchers, farm
energy grants or Value Added Producer
Grants.
Contact: Chuck Hassebrook, [email protected]
or 402.687.2103 x 1018 for more information.
Center for Rural Affairs
From the Blog
Crystal Clear TV,
Unless You Live Too Far Away
T
here’s an untold story developing in the conversion to
digital television.
No. It’s not all of the chatter about consumers needing more time (and a coupon from the federal government) to
buy and install a converter box. It’s also not the legislation
that President Obama just pushed through Congress to delay the formal switch until June.
All of that will soon be washed over by a new realization,
especially in the most rural parts of the country. Digital signals drop off abruptly at the end of their range, whereas analog signals fade out gradually. The point has gone without
much discussion, apparently because it is hard to say how
far digital signals will travel. It depends on the wattage of the
broadcaster, tower height, terrain, trees, etc.
If the analog signals you currently receive suffer static,
lines, fuzz, etc. that is an indication you are at the outer
range of the broadcast reach. The same station, broadcast,
digitally, may not reach you.
I first caught onto this issue just a month or two ago
when I heard a vague reference to digital signals dropping off
abruptly. Then last week on National Public Radio, I heard
75 miles referenced as a ballpark distance that digital signals
travel.
Seventy-five miles? There are a whole of a lot of rural people who live more than 75 miles from an urban center large
enough to have a broadcast television station.
The problem started to come home for me when my parents called this week. They live in rural northwest Iowa where
they receive analog signals for stations broadcasting from
Des Moines (150 miles away), Sioux City (100 miles away)
and Fort Dodge (60 miles away). They hooked their brand
new digital converter box up, and lost the stations in Sioux
City and Des Moines. Only the Fort Dodge station came in
digitally.
The Sioux City station and at least one of the Des Moines
stations are already broadcasting a simultaneous digital signal, but alas, it seems they are too far away to receive it.
Sure. They could get satellite television. But that’s not
cheap. And for many poor people, especially during these
tough economic times, the satellite bill might be out of reach.
For these people especially, broadcast television is important. Having equitable access to news and information is a
democratizing force that we should take seriously. It’s not
just about having access to Oprah or your favorite reality
show.
To read the complete text of this and other posts, visit the Blog for Rural
America at www.cfra.org/blog.
Contact: Brian Depew at [email protected] or 402.687.2103 x1015 for more
information.
5
6
Center for Rural Affairs
Donors, Thank You. You Make Our Work Possible.
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March 2009
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Lloyd C. Dumenil
Adriana Dungan
Arthur Dunham DVM
Randal Dunklau
David Dvorak
John Dyck
Larry Dyer
Larry Dyer and
Thea Murr
Donald Easdal
Glen Easter
Eastern Nebra
Telephone
Leon Eaton
Walter Ebert
Carroll Ebner
John and Step
Ebner
Gloria Eckerso
L.G. Eddy
Robert Edgerto
Irene Edmisten
Richard Edwar
Ronald and Pe
Egertsen
Lysle and Scot
Eichelberg
Gwen Eilers
Jack Einkopf
Robert J. Eisen
Chris and Caro
Eisenbeis
David and Sha
Eisenberg
Mike and Donn
Eisenstat
Lance and Dor
Steve and Reb
Richard Eller
Myron and Deb
Elliott
Phyllis Elliott
Donna Ellis
Mr. Stuart Elsb
Milton Emry
Tom and Janet
Carl and Debb
Engstrom
Helen Ensign
Carl and Ruth
Robert O. Epp
Melissa Epple
James and Ma
Don Eret
Dr. Stephen B.
Eusterbrock Br
Glen Evans
J Roger and
Darly Evan
Robert and De
Arvin L. Faig
Kathy Fairchild
Tom Farwell
Don and Mary
Charles S. Fau
Wesley Feight
Randy and Kar
Fendrich
Hildegarde Fen
Jean Fenton
Steve and Bern
Ference
David L. Ferne
Donald Ferren
Orville Feyerhe
Craig Ficenec
Don and Lois F
Merlin and Mar
Bob Finken
Lori Fischer
Loyd and Marie
Dale Fischer
Robert Fishbac
Don Fisher
E. J. Fisher
Steven L. Fish
Janaki Fisher-M
Susan Fitzgera
Five Rivers RC
Jerry Fixemer
Bob Flach
Walter Fleer Jr
Sherry Fleming
March 2009
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Center for Rural Affairs
Donors, Thank You. You Make Our Work Possible.
Charles and Angela
Flickinger
Marlo and Mary Ann Flo
Jane Flores
Gary Follhere
Marcia Forbes
Sam Forbes
Catherine Ford and
Jeremy Todd
Timothy and Lisa Fossa
Mick Foster
Dana Foster
Cora Ann Fouts
Charles and Barb
Francis
Barbara Francisco
Raymond Franek
Norman C. Frank
Maureen Franklin
Donald Fratzke
Dr. Edward C. Frederick
Elmer Freidel
Susan Frembgen
Lisa and Jim French
Clyde Frerichs
Merlin L. Frevert
W.W. and Marcie Frevert
Norman and Mary Frey
Ben and Arlene Fricke
Robert E. Friend
Carol Fries
Phil and Cindy Fritz
Kenneth and Carol
Fritzler
Andrew Froehle
Wayne Frost
Elizabeth Fryga
Roger Fujan
Jerry and Kathleen
Fullerton
Rick Fulton
Chad Fuqua
Maurice Furlong
Tom and Rebecca
Furlong
Bill Furlong
Eugene and Jeanette
Gabel
Alan Gager
Gale Cattle Company
Galvin Land Co.
Pat Ganey
Vitra Garcia
Ken and Julie Gard
Ken and Phyllis Gardner
David Garrahy
Jane Potter Gates
Wes and Marilyn Geidel
Julie Geiger
Trudy Geiger
Brian and Katie Genrich
Gerry George
Marie George
Arthur George
Doug German
Weslie Gey
Wayne and Marilyn
Geyer
Mark M. Giese
Lois and Melvin
Gieselmann
Tom and Sheryl Giessel
William H. Gilbert
John and Bev Gilbert
Jan Gilbert
Greg Gillespie
Gilbert W. Gillespie Jr
Susan E. Gillies
Jerry and Cindy Glaser
Rob Gleason
Dr. Marilyn Glenn
Martin Goedken
Jeffrey Goettemoeller
Gloria Goll
Terry and Connie
Gompert
M. A. Gonnerman
Ladell and Mary
Goodroad
Lois Gordon
Jeff Gorfine
Justin R. Gottula
David Gould
Lyle Graff
Tim Graff
Dallas and Rebecca
Graham
Grand Coulee Farm Inc.
Kathleen Grant
Sarah Grant
Lewis Grant
Tom Grau
Cathy Grauerholz
John E. and Margery
Graves
John C. Gray
Bill and Chris Greeley
Dan and Norma Green
Gloria Green
Amy Greger
Ruth Gregg-Ludwigs
Dan Greifenberger
Marcellus and Ruth Grell
Laurel Gress
Kenneth and Marlene
Greunke
Eugene Griffith
Mark Gronau
Richard Grosshauser
Bryce and Tammy
Grotelueschen
Conrad Grothen
Maple Grove
Donald C Gruber
Gary and Sharon Grugel
Dan Gudahl
Alan and Cathrine
Guebert
George Guenther
Rex Gulick
Russ Gundermann
David Gundy
Joan Gussow
Mark and Dianne
Gustafson
David Gutknecht
Jeff Gutz
Roger Haake
Michael Haase
Edna Haba
Don Hagedorn
Randy Hague
Kandra Hahn
Natalie Hahn
Roger Hahn
Bob Hamburg
Marian Hamling
Dawn Hampton
Paul Hamrick
Don E. Hanna III
Wallace and Phyllis
Hannappel
Layne Hanquist
Earle Hanselman
Gerry Hansen Farm
Lester and Donna
Hansen
Yvonne Hansen
Leroy and Vergie
Hansen
Mary Jane Hansen
John Hansen
Dale and Marcie Hansen
Andrew and Sherry
Hansen
Sally Hansen
Dean N. Hansen
David and Connie
Hansen
Gerald Hansen
Lloyd Hansen
Ron Hanson
Scott Hanson
John Hanson and
M.A. Sheets-Hanson
Marvin Hanson
Holly Hanson
Donald Hanway
Phil Hardenburger DVM
Seth Harder
Mary Harding and
Dick Erickson
Keith W. Harmon MD
Robert and Jeanette
Harms
Lynn and Sharleen
Harnisch
Daniel Harnisch
Virginia and Otha Harper
Ken Harriet
Paul Harrison
Del Harsh
Peter and Mary Jean
Hartel
Open Harvest Inc
Stafford Hasenkamp
Polly Hass
John R. Hass
Chuck Hassebrook and
Kate Borchman
Edward and Phyllis
Hassebrook
Rodney Hassebrook
Steven and Corliss
Hassler
David and Gloria
Hausman
Mary Haven
S. Elise Haverkamp
Joe Hawbaker
Carol and Leonard
Hawley
De Lynn and Esther Hay
Alice Hayden
Jessica Hayes
James H Hays
Alice Hecht Soliman
Dan Hecox
Sen. H Kay Hedge
William and Judith
Heffernan
Jim Hegemann
Shona Heim
Mike and Cecilia Heimes
Karen Heimes
Gary Heineman
Harris Heinemann
Steffen and Janet
Helgaas
Randy Helgerson
Rick Hemphill
Pastor John Henderson
Glen Henkel
Charles and Beverly
Henkel
Rollie Henkes
Deacon Stan Hennen
Floyd and Evelyn
Herman
Gaylon Hermann
Everette Herness
Jeff and Christine Herrick
Jim Hersh
John and Susan
Heyneman
Dale Hiepler
Janice and Clip Higgins
Pam Hildebrandt
Myron and Dorla Hill
Dorothy Hillen
Mike and Sally Hillis
Verlan and Victoria
Hingst
Conley and Elsie
Hinrichs
Wayne and Peggy
Hinrichs
Marvin Hinrichsen
Gretchen Hirschbach
Robert Hitchcock
Mary Pat Hoag
Kenneth and Lareda
Hoback
Michael Hobbs
Katherine Hobscheidt
John Hockspeier
Tara Hodges
Jerry Hodges
Juan Hoefer
David Hoefer
Alan and Geralyn
Hoefling
Carole Hoefs
Rev Roger Hoffman
Roland and Karol
Hoffman
Eugene and Mary
Hoffman
Marlen and Lois
Hohnbaum
Pamela Holcomb
Oris and Orma Holden
Sandra Holder
Carl Holder
George and Dorothy
Holdren
Daryl Holle
Dale Holmes
Everett Holstein
Lloyd and Mariea Holter
Linus and Elaine
Holthaus
Marx Holtorf
William J. Hooks
John D. Hoover
Don and Jeanette
Hoppes
Jay Howe
Patricia Howe
Craig Howley
Ruth Hruby
Jerold and Bonnie
Hubbard
Hubbs Agency
Neil Hudson
Karen and Howard
Hudson
Gordon Hughes
Randall Huls
Ron and Vida Hume
Edward and Margaret
Humlicek
Dwight and Janet
Humphrey
Debbie Hunsberger
Catherine Hunt
Jean and Bob Hunt
Roger and Marianne
Hunt
Kim Hunter
Virgil and Sharon Hupp
Roman Hupp
G. David Hurd
Jeff Hurrell
Daniel R. Hurt
Mark and Chris Huston
Elizabeth Hutchby
James W. Huttmann
David Iaquinta
Ibbetson Bros.
Roy and Connie Ike
John E. Ikerd
Lloyd and Marjorie Imker
Lon Inaba
Iowa Pork Producers
Gregory and Anne
Isaackson
Charles Isenhart
Fred Iutzi
Elizabeth Ivers
Wayne Iverson
Roger and Ona Iverson
John Iwan
James K. Jackson
Steve Jacobsen
Myron Jacobson
Carroll and Beverly
Jaixen
Frank and Barbara
James
Frank James Jr.
Jandrea, Inc.
John Jankowski
Janousek Farms
Dean Jansen
Gretl Jantzen
Royce and Carol Janzen
Jerry and Rose
Jaspersen
Loretta Jaus
Eugenia Jeary
Jerry Jenkins
Max and Wilma Jenny
F. Merle Jensen
Margaret Jensen
Kenneth F. Jensen
Clark and Dana Jensen
Stan Jensen
Harold and Ellamay
Jerman
Joan Jilka
Frank and Twila
Johannsen
Merlyn V. Johnson
Doug Johnson
Loyd Johnson
Ron J. Johnson
Leon and Maxine
Johnson
Douglas Johnson
James Johnson
Roland Johnson
Betty and Bud Johnson
Robert K. Johnson
Cortland Johnson
Heather Johnson
Bertha Johnson
Ralph and Ruth Johnson
Charlie and Bette
Johnson
Paul Johnson
Duane Johnson
Betty and Raymond
Johnston
Roxanna L. and
Paul Jokela
Arnold Jolles
Arnold and Gladys Jones
Marilyn and Gary Jones
Robert and Cheryll
Jones
Bryan and Kathy Jones
Leroy Jons
Charles Jorgensen MD
H. Doug Jose
Francis and Joan Joseph
Arvid Jovaag
Annette Junck
Juniper Grove
David and Nancy
Jurgensen
Dean and Marlene
Kaelin
Dennis and Nancy Kahl
Lloyd Kahlandt
Edward A. Kail
Gary Kaiser
Barbara Kalbach
Patricia Kaminski
Timothy Kammeyer
Jay Kanel
Kansas Rural Center
Russ Kanuika
Kenneth D. Kappeler
Jean Karlen
Mark and Andrea Karpf
Charles T. Karpf Jr
Steve Kasel
Troy and Susan
Kash-Brown
Mark Kastel and
Sara Grace
Lyle Kathol
Patricia Katz
Ann Kauffman Smith
7
8
Center for Rural Affairs
March 2009
Donors,
Thank You.Fr. Roger
YouLinnanMake Our
Work Possible.
Philip C. Kreitner
Verle and Betty Maxwell
Gordon Miller
Merle L. Kaufman
Fr. Leonard Kayser
Lynn and Vesta Keetle
Dennis Keim
Elias Keim
Steven and Bette Keiser
Anthony Keiter
Col. John E. Kellogg
Arliss and Kurt Kelsey
Bobbie Keltner
Arlen and Cindy
Kempcke
Betty Kemper
Lyle Kenner
Willard Kerndt
Kerr Center For
Sustainable Ag
Kenneth Kerwood
Edwin Kessler
Senator Jack Kibbie
Rosalie Kielian
Tom Kimes
Marilyn Kimmerling
Tom E. Kimmons
John King
Kathlyn Kingdon
John Kingsbury
Mitchell and Ann
Kingsley
Scott and MeLea Kinkaid
John Kinney
Kenneth Kirchner
Stephanie Kirkpatrick
Fred Kirschenmann and
Carolyn Raffensperger
Richard and Rosalie
Kleinschmidt
Fr. John Kleinwachter
Garry and Patricia
Klicker
James B. Kliebenstein
Jeff Klinge
Howard Klopping
Senator Frank Kloucek
John Kluthe
John Knapp
Donna Knecht
Tom and Lou Ann Kneifl
Mike Knepper
Mary Knight
Clem Knobbe
Lindsey and Justin Knopf
Jim and Carolyn Knopik
Larry and Karen Knuth
Claus and Maylo Knuth
Kristen Koch
Shelley Koch
Maurice and Vicky Koch
Bruce Koehler
Carolee Koehn
Jerome Koenigs
Karen and Dan Koester
Mike Kohlhaas
Larry and Patricia Kokes
Enid Kollars
Corinne Kolm
Paul Koluvek
Ted Kooser
J. Kopf Farms
Mike Korth
Pete Kotsiopulos
Cleo Kottwitz
David Kozlowski
Retha Kraay
Robert and Eleanor
Kraenow
Cindy Kraft
Kristi Kraling
Kent and Patty Krause
Gary Krause
Elmer and Gertrude
Krause
Mick Kreidler
Brian Kreikemeier
Wallace and Irene
Kreimeyer
Gary and Deb Kreimeyer
Steven Kreitman
Ashley Krest
Boots Kretzmeier
Rex and Fran Kreutz
Joleen Krieger
Mary and Jim Krier
Lawrence Kroeger
Bob Kroese
Alison Krohn
Bruce and Kaylene
Krueger
William and Gladys Krula
Dennis Kruse
Steve Krysl
Randy and Pam
Krzmarzick
Scott and Wendy Kubik
Gary and Pat Kubly
Jerry Kudera
Barb Kudera
Jerome Kudlacek
John and Janette Kuehn
Dennis Kugler
Arthur and Jean Kuhl
Stacy Kuhl
David Kwaw-Mensah
Judith Labelle
Marcel LaFlamme
James and Katherine
Lahowetz
Mark Lakers
Don and Pat Lamb
David and Ronda
Lambert
Larry Lamborn
Pete Lammers
Kathy Lammers
Roger Lammers
Russell Lang
Edward and Bernadette
Lange
Linus and June Lange
Marvin Lange
Rick and Becky Lange
Charles C. Langford
Gary A. Larsen
Steph Larsen
Anne D. Larson
The Honorable Donald
Larson
Pat Latz
John A. Lautzenheiser
Melody Leavitt
Kim Lecher
Stephen Lecuyer and
Joan O’Connell
Ruth Ann and
Jerome Lee
Pamela Lehmann
James and Donna Lein
Dick Leitschuck
Vincent Leners and Mary
Ellen Suhreptz Leners
Dennis and Bonnie
Leners
Jane Leonard
Norman Leuenberger
Dan Leuenenberger
David and Carolyn
Leuthold
Kent Lewandowski
Larry and Peggy Lewis
Terrence Lewis
Riley Lewis
Dwight and Janice Lewis
Barry Lia
Terri Ann Licking
Bill and Kathleen
Liebhardt
Dr. Matt Liebman and
Laura Merrick
Lucy Lien
Patricia Lind
Larry and Joanna
Lindberg
Rita Lindberg
Earl Lindenfelser
Norman Lindgren
Mark Litteaur
Doug Little
Lee and Betty Little
James Livingston
Mary Ellen Loch
Gail and Katy Lockard
Willie Lockeretz
Liz and Brendan
Lockhorn
Ann R. Loeffler
Opal Lofdahl
Clarence Lohff
Rich Lombardi
Daryl Long
Dan Looker
John Looney
John F. Lorenz
Linus Losh
Dean Lottman
Bill Loughmiller
Loup Basin RC & D
David Lovewell
Lower Loup NRD
Betty Lucas
Chris, Doug, Myron
Luebbering
Steve Luhr
Loren and Marilyn Lund
Sheila Luoma
David and Carolyn
Luscomb
Dan and Vera Mae Lutz
Charles P. Lutz
Ramona and David Lux
Don Lydic
G. Joe and Norma Lyon
Meredith MacCracken
LaWayne Mach
Marilyn MacKey
David L. Madsen
Jesse and Diana
Magana
Bob Mailander
Steven and Mary
Mairose
John and Laurine
Malcheski
Ricky Mallams
Arvid and Willadene
Malmberg
Marj and George
Manglitz
Charles Manlove
Michelle Mann
Karen Manning
Melvin and Betty
Manternach
Paul G. Manternach
Bernard and Anna
Manternach
Paula Mares
Philip S. Margolis
Richard and Martha
Markland
Mary Markus
Herb Marlowe
Joy Marshall
Donald and Gail Marti
Gary Martin
Paul B. Martin
Larry Martley
Fred Martz
Mary Anderson CPA
David J. Maser
John Masiunas
Frank Mason
Ken Mass
Martin Massengale
Tom Masters
Victor Mathern
Claude Mathiason
Alphonse Mathiowetz
Steve Mattern
Fred Mattes
Stanley and Dorothy
Matzke
Gordon E. Mau
Charles May
Art May
Terry Mayberry
Francis and Delila Mayer
Edward and Cindy
Mayfield
Lori McAlister
Dick McBride
Wyman and Phyllis
McCain
Patrick McCarron
Msgr. John McCarthy
Mikal McCartney
Heidi McCarty
Reverend John McCaslin
Alexandra McClanahan
Shively
Ellen and Thomas
McComb
Donald McCombs
Mark and Susan
McConnell
Steve McConnell
Bill McCracken
Cliff McCray
Todd and Dana
McDermott
John McDonald
Art and Arliss McDowell
Alec McErlich
Carol McGregor
Clifford and Evelyn
McGregor
Dan McGuire
John McIntosh
Vickie and Wayne
McLane
Frances McManus
Jeanne McNally
McNeely-Tilman Farms
Ronald and Nelva
McNeff
Jennifer McNeil
Robert McNeill
Carol and Jim McShane
Dan and Carol
McWhirter
Calvin Mechels
Angela Medbery
Richard and Alice
Meduna
Becky Meidinger
Ruth Meisner
James Meister
Melvin and Delores
Meister
Jeanne MeisterWestermann
R. Dale Melia
Bryan Mellage
Dr. Margaret Mellon
Nathan and Ellen Melson
Brian Mentink
Merrick Farms
Kathleen Merrigan
Kent and Peggy
Merryweather
Neil Mesner
Doug Metzger
Robin Metzner
Chuck Meyer
Leigh Meyer
Ronald and Susan
Meyer
Roger Meyer
Harlan and Connie
Meyer
Steve Meyer
Alan Meyer
Bob Meyerson
Carl and Elsie Michl
Midwest Organic and
Sustainable Education
Service
Rory Mikkonen
Glenn Miller
Dale Miller
Mary and John Miller
Rex and Sally Miller
Gerald and Marjorie
Miller
Roy Miller
Bob Miller
Bob and Coreen Miller
Dennis Miller
Lee Mills
Mills Shellhammer &
Assoc.
Melvin Millsap
Jim Millsap
Bill and Dana Milton
Dave and Florence
Minar
Jim and Ann Minarick
Miner County Bank
Mary Minette
Faye Minium
Kenneth Minnig
Kermit and Wilma
Miskell
Carol Ann Mitchell
Mitchell County
Supervisors
Mona Mitzel
Eldon Mitzner
Bob and Sandy
Moellenbeck
Alan and Lana Moeller
Wayne and Willistine
Moerer
James and Cynthia Mohl
Robert T. Mohler
Scott D Montgomery
Wendall Moody
Frank Moore
Gary and Sarah Moore
Kathy Moore
Clayton and Sandra
Moore
Allen and Diane Moravec
Scott Morgan
Lance Morgan
Heidi Morlock and
Hans Peterson
Rosalind Morris
Curt Morrow
Suzanne Morse
Mark and Carol
Moseman
Robert Moser
Mickey Motley
Stephen Charles Mott
Henry Wayne and
Helen Moyer
Arland and Deloris
Mozer
Senator Paul Muegge
Delmar Mueller
Jim Mueller
Mark Mueller
Edna Muhle
Robert V. Mulch
Tommy Mullen
John Muller
John and Pat Muntz
Dwight Murken
Marilyn Murphy
Ean Murphy
Francis and Annette
Murphy
William Murtha
Gary Musil
Dave and Deb
Mussmann
George and Virginia
Myers
William and Frances
Nafziger
Verlyn Naimon
Robert and Phyllis
Narveson
Joan Iverson Nassauer
Natl Center For
AppropriateTechnology
March 2009
Center for Rural Affairs
Donors, Thank You. You Make Our Work Possible.
John Neal
NE Municipal
Power Pool
Lonnie Neddenriep
Sr. Theresa Nederhiser
Brian Nedrow
Carmel Neesen
Edward Neesen
Deanne Neier
Joe and Corrine
Nekoliczak
Tom and Jackie
Nekoliczak
Max Nelms
Mark Nelson
Greg Nelson
Harland Nelson
Lee and Dorothy Nelson
Charles Nelson
Greg and Linda Nelson
Laverne and Arlene
Nelson
Marlow Nelson
Milford and Arlene
Nelson
Blaine and Donna
Nelson
Rex Nelson
John Nelson
Richard Nerem
Thomas Nerud
Julia Ness
Tom and Ruth
Neuberger
Paul Neukirch
Kent L. and
Mary Neumann
Heather Newell
Julie Newman
Jean G. Nicholas
Clark G. Nichols
Helen M Nichols
Mary and Ray Nichols
Craig Nickman
Herbert Nielsen
David and Beth Nielsen
David Nielsen
Phillip and Debbie
Nielsen
Russell Nielson
Larry and Donna
Niemeyer
John Niewohner
Paul and Elaine
Nighswonger
Ilana Nilsen
Dale and Sonya Nimrod
Tim M Nissen
No-Bull Enterprises
Tom Noecker
Kenneth Noll
Doug Nopar
Cindy Norling
Betty Norman
North Side Grain
Norton City /County Econ
Development
Diane Nosnik
Rev. James Novotny
Lillian Nowak
Carl Nuessmeier
Daryl and Jackie
Obermeyer
Fred Obmann
George and Kathleen
Oborny
Scott and Marilyn
O’Brien
Teressa O’Caer
Roselyn O’Connell
Norman Odell
John E. and Joan Oeltjen
William and Lucylee
Oemichen
Elmer Offerman
Richard Ogden
Leonard and Cynthia
Ohri
Sue Oiler Dowse
Tom and Terri Olander
Scott Oliva
Norma Oliver
Jerome and Lorraine
Olmsted
Rob and Mary Olsen
Paul Olson and Frances
Reinehr
Norman Olson and
Karen Flath-Olson
Sanford Olson
Rev. Phillip and
Rev.Virginia Olson
Glen M. Olson
John and Anne O’Mara
Kelly O’Neill
Oregon Tilth, Inc
Rina Orellana
Lynn Orion
Rita Ormsby
Sam Orr
Deanna Orwig
Beverly and Gerry
Osborn
Jan Osten
Jack and Mary
Ostergard
Marcia Ostrom PhD
Rodney Otley
Ted and Ardell Otte
Teresa Otte
Jim Owens
John Owens
Dwayne Oxford
Neil Oxton
Nancy Packard
Jerome Paczosa
Joseph and Marianne
Paffel
David and Lori Pankonin
Bob Panzer
Ken Parcher
Darrel Parish
Mary Alice and
Loyal Park
Partnership for
Philanthropic Planning
Rosie Partridge
Sandy Patton
Doug and Karrie Patton
Eileen Paulsen
Jerry Paulson
Tom Paulson
Kathleen Pavel
Larry and Carolyn Payne
David Peck
Donald L. Pederson
Steven Pellatz
Mike Permoda
Delayne Persson
John Pesek
Tom and Gretchen
Pesek
Christine Peters
Alvin Peters
Joyce Petersen
Chris Petersen
Elmer and Evelyn
Petersen
Vera Petersen
Carroll Peterson
Victoria Peterson
Marion and Opal
Peterson
James and Ruth
Peterson
Leonard Peterson
Arlo L. Peterson
John W. Peterson
Carol A. Peterson
Martin Petroski Jr
Michael Phillips
Pastor Evey Phillips
Cynthia Phinney
Boyd Piatz
Renee Picotte Lambrecht
Burdette Piening
Dolores Pieper
Jan Pigman
Cyril Pinkelman
Mary Rose Pinkelman
Richard and Mary
Pinkelman
Terence Pinkelman
Edward and Jeanette
Pinkelman
George Piper
R.K. Piper
Tom Platt
Becky Poen
Chuck Pohlman
Harry Pokorny
Debra Polacek
Stanley Pomberg
Frank Pope
Ken Poppe
Jay Poppe
Karen Poppe
Lowell and Betty Poppe
Frank and Deb Popper
Dan Port
Donna Porter
Thomas and Debra
Posey
Marvin and Betty Poss
Barbara Post
Greg Potthoff
Timothy and Marie
Powell
Prairieland RC&D
Senator Don Preister
David and Gail
Prestemon
Linda Price
Wayne Price
Glenn Price Jr
John Proctor
Max Propst
Delmer and Ollie
Provancha
Theresa Puls
Gregory Putnam
Paul Quam
Bob and Ann Quinn
Don Ralston
Mark Ramaeker
Marlene and Robert
Rasmussen
Russell and Charlene
Rasmussen
Bruce and Denise
Rathman
Robert Raun
Kevin and Jessica Raun
Earle Raun
Robert and Agnes
Raymond
Guy Raymond
Readel Farms
J.D. Rector
Art and Lorraine Redig
Verne L. Reding
Brad Redlin
Joe and Emily Reestman
Raymond and Gladys
Regier
Richard & Gretchen
Regnery
Dick Reichmuth
Gerald and Wanda
Reicks
Greg Reineke
Eldon D. Reiter
Will and Cheryl Rennick
Stephen Reno
Daniel Repenning
Charles Reppert
George T. Rethmeier
Retzlaff Farm
Phyllis Reynolds
Gene Rezac
Paul and Susan Rice
Laurie Richards
Howard C. Richards
Donald W. Richardson
Helen Richardson
Floyd Richmond
Roger M. Richter
William and Gloria
Riecken
Walter Ries
Jessieann Riggs
Barbara Rinehart
Randy Rink
Sterling Ritz
Reverend Kyoki Roberts
Don Roberts
Patricia Robertson
Daniel Robinett
Rodney Robison
Beth Roelfs
Mary Rogers
Patrick and Linda
Rogers
Wanda Rogge
Donald and Doris Rohrer
Lawrence Rojem
Alfred Rolfes
Marta Romer
Marvin and Constance
Roscoe
Dorothy Rosemeier
Martha Rosemeyer
John and Jeanne
Rosener
Ronald and Maria
Rosmann
Rose Ross
Phillip D. Ross
Frederick Rother
Maryanne Rouse
Tom Rudloff
Joanne Rudnick
Ruhnke Training Stables
Brian Rupp
Bob and Matilda Rupp
James Ruster
Robert J. Ryan
Pat and Adell Ryan
James Ryan
Vincent Ryan
Arlo Ryckman
Brent and Ranea
Rystrom
Paul and Laurie Saathoff
Donna and Merlyn
Saathoff
Joan and Paul Sadowski
Anna Sahs and
Heidi Schulz
Don and Shirley Sailors
Sonya Salamon
Phil and Shirley Salomon
Darreld and Rhonda
Saltzman
Sid Salzman
Galen Sampson
Duane Sand
Wesley Sandall
John Sanders
Stephen Sanders
Sandhill Farm
Juan Sandoval
Cathy Saner
Sandi Sattler-Weber
Sauvie Island Organics
Elaine Schabot
Lowell Schachtsiek
Lloyd Schademann
Gary and Christiane
Schaecher
John Schafersman
Kai Schafft
Lois Schank
Bob Scharlau
Russell and Sandra
Schartz
Philip H. Schatz
Don Schaunaman
Randy Schautel
Dr. Donald Schenk
Dennis Schill
Richard Schlaefli
Marilyn Schlake
Stuart and LaVera
Schlichtemeier
Don Schlichting
Dan and Marge Schlitt
Robert and Mary Schlut
Don and Sally
Schmaderer
Reverend Murray
Schmechel
Mary Jo and Lester
Schmerr
Cliff Schmid
David Schmidt
Marvin Schmidt
Freda Schmidt
Joe and Carol
Schmieding
Dan Schmit
Eugene Schmit
Paul Schmit
Lawrence Schmitt
Robert P. Schmitz
Joe and Esther Schmitz
Gladys Schmitz
Mindi Schneider
Douglas Schnell
Peggy Schnuerle
Bill Schobert
Scott Schock
Grace A. Schoeneman
Geneva Schoenrock
Corinne Schoien
Ben Schole
Carol Schooley
Louis J. Schott Jr
Susan Schrader
Allen Schram
Ronald and Kathy
Schroeder
Troy Schroeder
Loren Schroeder
Michael and Diane
Schroeder
Clayton Schubert
Michael and Yolanda
Schudel
Joann Schuelke
Doug Schueths
Lyle Schuetz
Bryan Schulte
Donral Schulz
August Schumacher
Johanna Schumacher
Joan Schumaker
Jennifer Schuster
John and Julie Schutz
Anthony Schutz
James Schwantes
Leon and Judy Schwartz
Roger and Crystal
Schwartz
Anne Schwartz
Bernhard Schwenk
Laroy and Mary Seaver
Brent and Brenda
Sebade
Dale Secher
Sister Marie Louise
Seckar
Margery Secrest
James Seeber
Lynette Seigley
Linda and Phil Seipel
Alvin and Jeanette
Semin
Miner and Valetta
Seymour
M.V. Shamblin
Charles Shapiro
Dwight Sheets
Jim Shelton
Father Edward Sherman
Marvin Shirley
Mary Helen Shortridge
Eve Ann Shwartz and
Harmon Hoff
9
10
Center for Rural Affairs
Donors, Thank You. You Make Our Work Possible.
Dale and Lisa Siebrecht
Richard and Susan
Siefken
Steven Siegel
Richard Siemers
Robert Sieverding
Susan Sievers
Raymond Sigwalt
Lance and Krista
Simminger
Wayne and Stephanie
Simmons
Kenneth and Clara
Siroky
Sister of the Presentation
of the BVM
Bruce and Prudence
Skinner
Cynthia Skrukrud and
Thomas Von Geldern
Anton and Charlene
Skutchan
George Slater
Kara Slaughter
Richard and Diana Sloan
Alan Sloup
Milton Smaus
Dotty Smedra
Greg and Jodi Smith
Tom Seth Smith
Morris and Phyllis Smith
Kevin Smith
Judith Smith
Robert and Margaret
Smith
Gerald and Mary Smith
Norman L. Smith
Eddie and Joanie Smith
Roxanne Smith
Wilma Smith
Margareta Smith Knopik
James and Anne Smolik
Kelly T. Snider
Donald and Shirley Sock
Linus and Irvin Solberg
Sean Solberg
Jane Sooby
Phil Soreide
Wayne Sorenson
Pam Sorrell
Dean Spader
Paul Spatz
H L Speake
Robert and Leona Speck
James and Carol
Spence
Terence Spencer
Edward Spenner
Thomas Spicker
Rosie Spieker
Ardith M. Sporleder
Dave and Mena Sprague
Richard A. Sprague
Ann Sprayregen
Don Sprieck
Jerry Squires
Mary and Chris Sramek
Richard Stagl
Bernadine Stake
Clayton Stalling
Jerome Stam
Sam Stancheck
Larry Stanislav
Milo Stanislav
Jerome Stanley
Keith and Joyce Stanley
Kathie Starkweather
Joel Starr
Karl and Hollis Stauber
Dale Stauffer
Larry and Lanette Stec
Emma and George
Steen
Tyrone and Deidra Steen
Tom and Donna Steffen
Victor and Hilaria Steffen
Lemoyne Steffens
David Steffensmeier
Michael and Cindy
Stehlik
L. Joe Stehlik
Bob and Lyda Steiert
Frederick Steinbron
George Steinsberger
Steiny’s General Store
Diana Stephen
Gerry U. Stephens Jr
Bill Stewart
Richard P. Stewart
Troy Stickels
Lonnie Stieben
Emily Stiegelmeier
Phil and Ann Stillman
Jerald Stinson
Mary Stock
Robert Stoddard
Paul Stone
Nadine Stoner
Tanya and Eric Storer
Steve Stover
Irvin and Goldie Stover
Stowell, Kruml, Geweke
& Cullers PC
Orrin Strand
Marty Strange and
Annette Higby
Charlotte StreckerBaseler
William and Joan Street
Bob Street
Carolann Streett
Dan Strimer
Joe Strong
Leonard and Kathy
Strope
Reinhold Struhs
Kenneth and Joan Stuhr
Merlin Stuhr
Kimberly Stuhr
Virginia A. Stuhr
Al Sturgeon
Deon and Judy
Stuthman
Jennifer Sukup
Robert F. Sullivan
John L. Sullivan
Donald Summers
Ralph Surprenant Jr
Sustainable Dev.
Partnership
Tyler Sutton
Timothy Svatora
Ivan and Sherrill
Svoboda
Amy Svoboda
Paul Swanson
John Swanson
Harold Swanson
Eugene A Swanson
Ron Swanson
Dennis Swanson
David P. Sweeney
Dale and Wanda
Swenson
Nancy Swift
Scott Swisher
T & M Inc.
Virginia Talley
Leo and Judy Tammi
Dan Taylor
James Taylor
Cleo Te Slaa
Vance Teegerstrom
Leroy and Judy Tejral
The Diocese of
Grand Island
The Presbytery of
Des Moines
The Yankee Springer
Foundation
Francis Thicke
Ted and Mona Thieman
Kenneth Thiltges
Robert Thioulon
Martha Thomas
David Thomas
Lyndon Thompson
Robert and Melissa
Thompson
Paul and Diane
Thompson
Gale and Cynthia
Thomsen
John and Kaye Thoren
Steven and Janice
Thoreson
Russell P. Thress
Robert and Helen
Thullner
Richard Tiggelaar
Lloyd and Leona
Timperley
Dolores Tippett
Karen Uden Tjarks
Tom Tomas
Anton Tometich Jr
Dennis and Monica
Tomka
Kenneth Tomky
Patricia Tomlin
Gifford and Alice
Tompkins
Rachel Tompkins and
Sally Maggard
Ruth Tonachel
Steve Tonsfeldt
Top of the Ozarks RC&D
Roger Topil
Janet Topolsky
Jeff Tracy
Dale Tracy
Tina Traster
Gene and Evelyn
Tromble
Jeff Troupe
Daniel D. Tschantre
Jennifer Tucker
Daniel Tunink
Alfred and Carol Turek
Turner Farm
Eugene Tvrdy
Kenneth Twait
Curtis M. Twedt
Stephen Twitchell
Homer and Lowene
Uehling
Kenneth and Dolorita
Uhing
Elizabeth Ungar
United Way Of Lincoln
Max and Arlene Unseld
Sam and Lori Utecht
Dwaine Van Pelt
Richard Van Pelt
Caroline Van Schaik
Vance Cutting Horses
Stan and Marilyn
VanderWeide
Ann Vanhoff
Margie Vanskyock
John and Lillian Vasa
Jay Vavricek
Demetrio Vazquez
Harlan Vedral
Rev Roger Verley
Harold and Paula
Vestermark
Donald Vetter
David Vetter
Stephen Vetter
Dr. Anne Vidaver
Claudia Viek
Village of Wolbach
Lydia Villanueva
Don Villwock
Helen Vinton
Howard Vlieger
Loi Vo
Eve Vogel
Ingolf Vogeler
Norman and Gloria
Vogle
Oren and Joyce Vogt
Merlin and Evelyn
Volkmer
Dennis Von Seggern
Clinton Von Seggern
Dolores Voorhees
Ron and Nancy Vos
Tom Votipka
Verlon and Elaine Vrana
Kristine Wacker
Tom Wagner
M. Judd Wagner
Virgil Wagner
Michael and Barbara
Wahler
Gary and Jane Wahlgren
Paul and Sandra
Walgren
Stanley Walk
John Walker
Brett Wall
Don and Kay Wall
John P. Wall
Scott and Janet Wallace
Willis Waller
Norman Wallman
Dick Walsh
Mike Walsh
Mike Waltemath
Daniell Walters
Jen Walters
Mr. and Mrs. Ward
Jack Warrick
Robert and Gudrun Warrick
Edwin Waters
Donald L Waterworth, Sr.
Ralph Watkins
Wayne’s Organic Garden
Bill Weaver
Nick and Pat Weber
Leonard and Margaret
Weber
Allen and Janice
Wedekind
Neil Wedeking
Kendra Weers
Thomas and Karlene
Wegehaupt
Steven Wehmer
Frank Weidenfeller
Magdalen Weiler
Connie Weinzapfel
Rona Weiss
Thomas A. Wellington III
Joyce Wells
Earl and Frieda Wells
Errol and Marilyn Wells
Marvin J. Welp
Rick Welsh
Carroll and Stan Welte
David Welter
Bonnie and John
Wennekamp
Richard and Diana Wenz
Marie Werdel
Steve Werner
Elden and Constance
Wesely
Linda West
West Point News
Weston A Price Foundation
Dave and Barbara Wetzel
Orval L. Weyers
Robert E. Wheeler
Duane Wheeler
Dr. Margaret Wheelock and
Dr. Keith Johnson
Terry Whipple
Craig White
Lyle and Carolyn Wichman
Brian Wienhold
Don and Darlene Wiese
David Wieseneck
Lynn R. and Beverly
Wightman
Bill Wilcke
Everett and Joan Wilkens
James Wilkinson
Bruce Will
Anne Willaims
March 2009
Elvera Willcock
Gary Willers
Roslyn Willett
Stan Williams
David L Williams
Gary Williams
Mike Williams
Robert D. Williams
Tad Williams
Larry and Rebecca Williams
Marlene Wilmes
Henry F. Wilmes
Wade Wilson
Olive Wilson
J Graydon Wilson
Jerry and Norma Wilson
Donna Winbum
Joyce and Al Wink
Chad Winkelbauer
Bob and Carole Winkleblack
Gerald Winter
Philip and Rochelle Wipf
Austin Wirght
Ken Wise Jr
Marc and Holly Wittstruck
Bruce Woita
Donald and Carolyn Woita
George Wolf
Jesse and Loxi Wolf
Patrick Wolfe
Chris Wolff
Ray and Velma
Wollschlager
Zane Wondercheck
Otto and Rita Woockman
Dennis Woodin
Ron and Linda
Wooten-Green
James and Janell Woracek
George Work
Danette and Ron Wortmann
Mike Wragge
Dale and Ilia Wright
Jack O. Wright
Thomas Wright
Marsha Wuebben
David Wuebben
Virginia and John Wunder
Larue Wunderlich
Richard Wynne
Jon Yates
Pat Yeagle
Prof. Michael L Yoder
Ivan Yoder
Jim Yon
Jeff Yost
Delores Young
Larry and Shirley Young
Jamie Young
Garth Youngberg
Youngers Farm Inc.
Loren and Jane Yule
Robert and Madonna Zach
Susan Zacharakis-Jutz
Robert and Edith Zahniser
David and Linda Zahrt
Bill Zales
Levi Zarbano
Theresa Zeman
Reverend Donald W. Zenk
James and Eileen Zentner
Harlan and Esther Zentner
Charlotte Zerbe
Carl Ziebarth
Jacqueline Ziegler
Darrel Zimmerman
Steve Zimola
Richard Zimola
Larry K. Zink and
Laurel Erickson
Zachariah Zink
Ben and Helen Zoss
Eugene and Deborah
Zuhlke
March 2009
Center for Rural Affairs
11
Rural America Presents Unique Set of Health Care Challenges:
Limited Health Care Access, Greater Rates of Disability and Chronic Diseases, Higher
Use of Public Health Care, Higher Rates of Small Business and Self-Employment
R
ural America presents a situation.
unique set of challenges for
The Center for Rural Affairs has
health care reform. Rural always believed that guiding prinpeople have less access to health ciples are fundamental to any pubnetworks and health care provid- lic policy effort. Our work on health
ers, greater rates of disability and care is no exception. Any proposed
chronic diseases, and higher use health care sorates of all public health care pro- lution or regrams. And largely as a result of form should
higher rates of self-employment be:
and small business employment, • Universal,
rural Americans have lower rates
which inof employer-provided benefits and
cludes
a
are more likely to be underinsured
choice of
or uninsured for longer periods of
a private
time. The 60 million people in rural
insurance
America are most in need of health
plan,
incare system reform and have much
cluding
to contribute to any reform debate.
keeping
Health care is also a major barthe insurrier to rural economic development
ance you
that creates genuine opportunity
have if you
and reduces poverty. Microenterlike it, or
prise and small business developa
public
ment is the most effective path in
insurance
many communities for low and
plan
that
moderate-income rural people to
guarantees
pull themselves out of poverty. But
affordable coverage.
if small entrepreneurs cannot gain • Continuous.
affordable access to health care for • Affordable to individuals
themselves or their employees, that
and families.
path out of poverty is blocked. Any • Affordable and sustainable for
hope of building genuine economsociety.
ic opportunity for struggling rural • Enhance health and well-being.
Americans through entrepreneurWe are writing a series of papers
ship must be accompanied by re- on unique and critical rural isforming the health care system in a sues that must be addressed in the
way that benefits both small busi- health care reform debate. The first,
ness owners and their employees.
Nutrition, Physical Activity and ObeIt is vital that the
unique health reform
challenges of rural arCheck our website at
eas are carefully articwww.cfra.org/policy/health-care
ulated to policymakers. Reform can either
for the latest news, publications
address these unique
and opportunities to contribute.
challenges and provide an opportunity
for healthier people
Be sure to sign our petition to
and more sustainable
stand up for health care reform!
communities, or exacerbate the current
!
sity in Rural America, highlighted
current research and statistics on
the health status of rural America,
detailed the long-term consequences for rural people and communities, and outlined a set of solutions,
policy and otherwise.
We are organizing rural
people in Iowa, Montana,
North Dakota and western Wisconsin, all crucial
areas to the health care
reform debate, to provide
them opportunities
to discuss
with their
policymakers health
care and
solutions
that will
benefit
rural people
and communities.
T h e
health
care reform
debate promises to be long. Check our website
at
http://www.cfra.org/policy/
health-care for the latest news,
publications and opportunities
to contribute. You can also stand
up for health care reform that
works for everyone, including rural
people, family farmers and small
business owners by signing our
petition at http://www.cfra.org/
policy/health-care/advocacy. We
will share your signatures and your
comments with the Obama administration.
Contact: Jon Bailey, [email protected] or
402.687.2103 x 1013 for more information.
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Permit #138
Sioux City, IA 511
P.O. Box 136 • Lyons, NE 68038-0136
Address Service Requested
03/09
Leadership Development Key to Center’s Community Development
S
uccessful rural community Strong micro-business development and support for micro
development comes in many
forms, and developing good businesses fuels successful rural community development.
leaders is a key component (see
our recent series on leadership in
businesses. This type of activity can be used as a sucOct.-Jan. newsletters). Leadership development was a cessful recruitment tool to bring new people to a combig part of our community development work last year, munity. The Center’s REAP staff will offer training and
and will continue to be. Read on to find out more about technical assistance. Students from the University of
what we’ve been up to in rural Nebraska communities. Nebraska - Omaha College of Information Science &
Strong micro-business development and support for Technology at the Peter Kiewit Institute will assist small
micro businesses fuels successful rural community de- businesses with website development.
velopment. (A micro business has five or fewer employOur rural development work has expanded to westees.) So for three years in a row, the Center brought ern Nebraska with ecotourism business assistance. We
together a wide range of partners and collaborators at are helping landowners identify management practices
MarketPlace, a one day event that gives people the tools to improve their wildlife habitat and potential for tourthey need to be successful in small business and farm- ism enterprises. A spillover affect to nearby communiing and ranching endeavors.
ties has generated interest in art galleries, coffee shops,
In 2008 we launched a project in northeast Nebraska bed and breakfasts, restaurants and more small busipartnering with the Northeast Economic Development nesses.
District to create a small business network that links
In 2009 we’ll continue the projects we’ve identified
small rural businesses to larger urban and micro-pol- above along with others: community assessments; comitan businesses (micro-politan as defined by the U.S. munity development that includes sustainable agriculCensus is an urban center surrounded by counties or a ture as well as beginning farmers and ranchers; energy
region with a population between 10,000 and 50,000). fairs; and an expanded focus on youth entrepreneurThe small businesses will provide goods and services to ship. Our goal is to strengthen our communities and
larger metro and micro-politan area businesses, creat- provide real opportunities for people to live and thrive
ing a supplier network and also creating a peer-to-peer in healthy, sustainable ways.
network among themselves.
The goal is to create new or expand already existing For more information, contact Kathie Starkweather, kathies@cfra.
org or 402.438.8496.
12
Center for Rural Affairs
March 2009