Javascript is required to use this website.

The true meaning of belonging to a community

By DR. VAL FARMER, Columnist
May 19, 2010
May 19, 2010

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

What is a sense of community? How is it created? Why do some rural towns have a greater sense of community than others? Are rural towns losing their sense of community? Why? How can it be increased?

kAm$@>6 A6@A=6 E9:?< 4@>>F?:EJ :D 2 EJA6 @7 ;@:?:?8 H:E9 @E96C A6@A=6 @7 =:<6 :?E6C6DED @C 4:C4F>DE2?46D \ E96 32?<:?8 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2CE 4@>>F?:EJ[ 3@H=:?8 4@>>F?:EJ @C E96 “82J @C =6D3:2?” 4@>>F?:EJ] %96D6 2C6 ?@E ECF6 4@>>F?:E:6D] %96D6 8C@FAD 2C6 724E:@?D @7 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am

kAmr@>>F?:EJ 766=:?8 92AA6?D H96? A6@A=6 4@>6 E@86E96C 7@C E96 8@@5 @7 E96 H9@=6] !6@A=6 766= E96J 36=@?8 E@ 2 4@>>F?:EJ H96? E96C6 :D 2 A2EE6C? @7 ECFDE[ 4@@A6C2E:@? 2?5 @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 36?67:ED 6G6CJ@?6] %9:D EJA6 @7 :?E6?D6 C6=2E:@?D9:A 2?5 >FEF2= ECFDE 7@==@HD E96 =625 @7 =@42= =6256CD H9@ 2C6 F?D6=7:D9[ G:D:@?2CJ[ :?4=FD:G6 2?5 D<:==7F= 2E ?68@E:2E:@?D 2?5 56G6=@A:?8 4@?D6?DFD]k^Am

kAm%96J 92G6 2 9:DE@CJ @7 A2DE DF446DD6D :? H@C<:?8 E@86E96C] xE :D 2 EC25:E:@?] {@@<:?8 2E 2 E@H?’D 9:DE@CJ[ J@F 42? :56?E:EJ 2 4@C6 8C@FA @7 =6256CD H9@ DE2CE65 2 EC25:E:@? @7 4:G:4 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ] %96:C 6I2>A=6 65F42E65 2 DF3D6BF6?E 86?6C2E:@? @7 =6256CD @? 9@H =6256CD9:A :D 5@?6 H6==] %96J D6E 2 A2EE6C? @7 4@>>F?:EJ 4@@A6C2E:@? 2?5 46=63C2E:@?]k^Am

kAmxE :D 8C@F?565 :? E96 ?@C>D 2?5 36=:67D @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ] “%9:D :D H92E H6 5@] (6 92G6 DEC@?8 E:6D E@ 6249 @E96C] ~FC =@42= @C82?:K2E:@?D H@C< E@86E96C]”k^Am

kAm#FC2= A=246D 92G6 2? 25G2?E286 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 4@>>F?:EJ] %96C6 :D 2 8C62E6C 56?D:EJ @7 C6=2E:@?D9:AD] !6@A=6 <?@H @?6 2?@E96C 2?5 C6=2E6 E@ 6249 @E96C :? >F=E:A=6 D6EE:?8D 2?5 C@=6D] %96J 2C6?’E D68C682E65 :?E@ :?E6C6DE @C 286 8C@FAD] r@>>F?:EJ 24E:G:E:6D 27764E 6G6CJ@?6] %9:D :D E96 8C62E A@E6?E:2= DEC6?8E9 @7 CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D] %96 H9@=6 :D 36EE6C E92? E96 DF> @7 :ED A2CED]k^Am

kAm%9:D D6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ :D 2 C62= C6D@FC46] *@F 42? =:E6C2==J 32?< @? :E] %96 >@C6 J@F 92G6 @7 :E[ E96 36EE6C 49:=5C6? 5@ :? D49@@=] pD E@ CFC2= 56G6=@A>6?E[ :E 92D >@C6 >@?6E2CJ 4@?D6BF6?46D E92? ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46D[ =@42E:@? @7 E96 :?E6CDE2E6[ 4@>>F?:EJ :?7C2DECF4EFC6 @C 6G6? E96 65F42E:@? @7 E96 A@AF=246]k^Am

kAm%9:D D6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ ECFDE 2?5 H:==:?8?6DD E@ :?E6C24E 2?5 4@@A6C2E6 :? D@=G:?8 4@>>F?:EJ H:56 AC@3=6>D 5@6D?’E 36=@?8 E@ 2?J @?6 A6CD@?] xE :D 6>3@5:65 H:E9:? E96 4@>>F?:EJ] x7 J@F 5@?’E FD6 :E[ J@F’== =@D6 :E] %96 >@C6 J@F FD6 :E[ E96 >@C6 J@F 92G6]k^Am

kAm!6@A=6 =62C? 4:G:4 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ :? E96:C 72>:=:6D[ 49FC496D 2?5 D49@@=D] (@C<:?8 H:E9 @E96CD E@ 5@ 8@@5 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ 4C62E6D 8@@5 766=:?8D] %96C6 :D A@D:E:G6 C6:?7@C46>6?E 7@C 4@?DECF4E:G6 3692G:@C] !6@A=6 >:8C2E:?8 7C@> 4:E:6D @7E6? 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C E96 766=:?8 @7 36=@?8:?8 E@ 2 4@>>F?:EJ] %96 :?4=FD:G6 7C:6?5=:?6DD :D 2 A@H6C7F= 2EEC24E:@? @7 CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am

kAm%96 E@H?D E92E 5@?’E 92G6 :E 92G6 E96:C =6256CD9:A 7C24E:@?2E65 :?E@ D6A2C2E6 8C@FAD] p? 6I2>A=6 @7 E9:D H@F=5 36 2 E@H? H:E9 7:G6 49FC496D 6249 8@:?8 E96:C D6A2C2E6 H2JD G6CDFD 2 E@H? H:E9 7:G6 49FC496D H9@ 4@==23@C2E6 @? AC@;64ED]k^Am

kAmr9:=5C6? 766= :E H96? E96J D6?D6 E92E E96 4@>>F?:EJ :D AC@F5 @7 E96> 2?5 E96:C D49@@=] %96J 42? =62C? 4:G:4 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 2E D49@@= 2?5 4@==23@C2E6 @? AC@;64ED 7@C 4@>>F?:EJ 36EE6C>6?E] $49@@=D 42? 36 2 46?E6CA:646 :? 4F=E:G2E:?8 2 D6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am

People are also reading…

Missouri cowgirl bakes to fund her trick-riding ambitions
Finding her niche on family farm: Newman Grove farm wife builds pork business
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Variety of fencing meets needs on the farm
Fast-Dohrmann-Strommen 55th Annual Production Sale
Eichacker Simmentals & JK Angus
Effertz Key Ranch 48th Annual Bull Sale
Highmore cattleman elected to American Simmental board
Berwald Red Angus 4th Annual Bull & Female Sale
Helping wildfire victims, the Nebraska way
Heart River Ranch Annual Production Sale
Wildfires: Yearning to help, prompted to plan
First South Dakotan named chairman of U.S. Soybean Export Council
'We need more first-generation farmers'
Spring wheat market seeing upward price movement

kAm(92E 7@C46D 56EC24E 7C@> 4@>>F?:EJnk^Am

kF=m k=:mp? :?4C62D6 :? CFC2= 4@>>FE:?8] |2?J A6@A=6 =:G6 :? D>2== E@H?D 2?5 4@>>FE6 E@ @E96C A=246D 7@C >65:42= D6CG:46D[ 6?E6CE2:?>6?E[ DFAA=:6D[ D9@AA:?8[ H@C< 6E4] q65C@@> 4@>>F?:E:6D 5@?’E @C82?:K6 E96>D6=G6D 2C@F?5 AC@3=6>D 2?5 8@2=D] v6@8C2A9:4 :D@=2E:@? 96=AD <66A 4@>>F?:EJ DA:C:E 2=:G6]k^=:m k^F=m

kF=m k=:m%96 AC:G2E6 H@C=5 @7 E6=6G:D:@? 2?5 6=64EC@?:4 >65:2] |2?J A6@A=6 2EEC:3FE6 E96 564=:?6 @7 “?6:893@C:?8” 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ DA:C:E E@ E96 2CC:G2= @7 E6=6G:D:@?] t=64EC@?:4 ?6:893@CD C6A=246 C62= @?6D] %9:D 56G6=@A>6?E 92D 2446=6C2E65 H:E9 s's’D[ G:56@ 82>6D[ E96 x?E6C?6E[ D@4:2= >65:2 2?5 A6@A=6 86EE:?8 @3D6DD65 H:E9 “G:CEF2= C62=:EJ” :?DE625 @7 C62= H@C=5 C6=2E:@?D9:AD]k^=:m k^F=m

kF=m k=:mp C6=:2?46 @? ?2E:@?2= >65:2 :?DE625 @7 =@42= >65:2] !6@A=6 2C6 >@C6 72>:=:2C 2?5 36EE6C :?7@C>65 23@FE E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 E92? 23@FE E96:C =@42= 4@FCE 9@FD6] %96J 3@CC@H AC@3=6>D 7C@> 6=D6H96C6 2?5 2DDF>6 E96D6 AC@3=6>D 2C6 8@:?8 @? :? E96:C @H? 324< J2C5] *@F?8 A6@A=6 8C@H FA ?@E <?@H:?8 E96:C A=246[ E96:C =@42= 9:DE@CJ[ E96:C =@42= 64@?@>J @C =@42= :DDF6D]k^=:m k^F=m

kAm{6256CD9:A 56G6=@A>6?E AC@8C2>D 7:== 2 <6J C@=6 3J :?7@C>:?8 =@42= =6256CD9:A] {@42= =6256CD <66A FA\E@\52E6 @? H92E :D 92AA6?:?8 2?5 27764E:?8 E96> :? E96:C @H? 324<J2C5 \ D@4:2==J[ 64@?@>:42==J 2?5 A@=:E:42==J]k^Am

kF=m k=:mp? 2G@:52?46 @7 4@?EC@G6CDJ 2?5 4@?7=:4E] #FC2= A6@A=6 E6?5 E@ AFE 2 4@?DE2?E C6DEC2:?E @? E96:C H:==:?8?6DD E@ E2<6 C:D<D] %96J 92G6 E@ H6:89 42C67F==J H92E E96J D2J 2?5 5@] r@>>F?:E:6D 5@ 36EE6C H96? E96C6 :D 2? @A6? 2?5 7C66 5:D4FDD:@? @7 :562D 2?5 AC@3=6>D] u62C7F= 4@>>F?:E:6D 5@?’E =6E 2 4@?EC@G6CDJ DFC7246] qFE H96? :E 5@6D[ A6@A=6 E2<6 D:56D H:E9 2 G6?862?46]k^=:m k^F=m

kF=m k=:m!C6;F5:46 2?5 :?E@=6C2?46] #FC2= A6@A=6 42? 36 BF:E6 ;F58>6?E2= @7 6249 @E96C] %96 36DE 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 :?4=FD:G6 2?5 96=A 6G6CJ@?6 A2CE:4:A2E6 2?5 E@ 766= 2 A2CE @7 4@>>F?:EJ =:76] %96 =6256CD9:A 4@C6 :D :?4=FD:G6 2?5 H6=4@>6D ?6H A6@A=6 2?5 ?6H :562D] xDDF6D 2?5 AC@3=6>D 364@>6 6G6CJ@?6’D C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ]k^=:m k^F=m

kF=m k=:ms:776C6?46D :? 64@?@>:4 DE2EFD] t4@?@>:4 92C5 E:>6D 2?5 5:DA2C:EJ 36EH66? E96 “92G6D” 2?5 E96 “92G6\?@ED” E62C 2H2J 2E E96 723C:4 @7 4@>>F?:EJ =:76] tI46DD:G6 4@>A6E:E:@? H:E9 6249 @E96C 4C62E6D 2? F?H:==:?8?6DD E@ ;@:? @? 4@>>@? :DDF6D] !@=2C:K2E:@? @? :DDF6D[ H96E96C ?2E:@?2= @C =@42=[ 56DEC@JD E96 H:==:?8?6DD E@ =@@< 7@C D@=FE:@?D E92E C6DA64E 5:776C6?46D]k^=:m k^F=m

kAmr@>>F?:EJ DA:C:E 2?5 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 2C6 H92E >2<6D CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D DA64:2=] w@H 5@6D J@FC 4@>>F?:EJ DE24< FAn s@ J@F 766= =:<6 J@F 36=@?8nk^Am

kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ G:D:E '2= u2C>6C’D H63D:E6 2E k2 9C67l Q9EEAi^^HHH]G2=72C>6C]4@>QmHHH]G2=72C>6C]4@>k^2m] '2= u2C>6C’D 3@@<[ “w@?6J[ x $9CF?< E96 u2C>[” 42? 36 AFC492D65 3J D6?5:?8 2 4964< @C >@?6J @C56C 7@C Sf]d_ E@i w@?6J[ x $9CF?< E96 u2C>[ %96 !C6DE@? r@??64E:@?[ !~ q@I ``bd[ ~C6> &% gc_dh]k^Am

kAmu@C '2= u2C>6C’D 3@@< @? >2CC:286[ “%@ w2G6 2?5 %@ w@=5[” D6?5 2 4964< @C >@?6J @C56C 7@C S`_ A=FD Sb]hd 7@C D9:AA:?8 2?5 92?5=:?8 7@C E96 7:CDE 3@@< 2?5 Sa 7@C 6249 255:E:@?2= 3@@< E@ y' !F3=:D9:?8[ {{r[ !~ q@I gge[ r2DD6=E@?[ }s dg_`a]k^Am

kAm'2= u2C>6C :D 2 4=:?:42= ADJ49@=@8:DE DA64:2=:K:?8 :? 72>:=J 3FD:?6DD 4@?DF=E2E:@? 2?5 >65:2E:@? H:E9 72C> 72>:=:6D] w6 =:G6D :? (:=5H@@5[ |@][ 2?5 42? 36 4@?E24E65 E9C@F89 9:D H63D:E6]k^Am

kAma_`_ %96 !C6DE@? r@??64E:@? u62EFC6 $6CG:46k^Am