In 1920, one out of three Americans lived and worked on farms and ranches. Today, that’s about one out of 50. The change from a rural, agricultural nation to one that is mostly urban and industrialized has been constant over the past century.
The average American is now at least three generations removed from the farm, as young people left the farm for job opportunities in cities.
But for every trend, there are exceptions.
In a recent media tour, viewers and listeners from across the nation had the opportunity to meet four exceptional women: Ashley Pool of Bailey County, Texas, who grew up on the farm and decided to stay, and Deborah Clark of Clay County, Texas, Kyla Hamilton of Lubbock County, Texas, and Jaimie Saylor or Bailey County, Texas, who each grew up in cities, moved to farms, and now are actively engaged in growing our food. They are part of an organization known as CommonGround, a group of women farmers who have conversations about the food they grow and how they produce it.
In their journey from city to farm, they discovered that farming today is based on advanced science and sophisticated technology that maximizes production while conserving resources and protecting the environment. They learned that families whose livelihoods depend upon the land and water are among the best stewards of those resources.
Resources
Want to learn more about how farmers are sustainably producing for our food, feed, fuel and fiber needs with the technical assistance of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Texas? Gain insight on conservation practices and program, and the value of corn production beyond the farm at:
Have questions about your food and how it’s grown? Ask a farmer! Access the network of more than 200 CommonGround volunteers, as well as excellent resources on food hot topics at:
You can also connect with the farmers from the recent media tour at: