Rural Lifestyle on Highway 6

Let's Talk About The Real Issues

Last weekend I was honored to be part of a crew of writers (bloggers) and photographers who were invited by Deb Brown and the Greater Franklin County, Iowa Chamber to visit their part of the world.  Why?

Here's my friend Deb Brown sharing the rational for Harvest Tour 2012 as well as bringing up the economic reality of rural broadband Internet:

 

We have long held to the belief that connecting Rural America to reliable, fast Internet service that is also cost effective is a major issue that has a direct impact on the economy.  We'd ask our urban friends to help us create the engine of opportunity and press for affordable rural broadband...now.

If you would like to leave a comment here, feel free.  Or let's connect on our Twitter Feed @RuralLifeRadio or our communication agency Facebook Page.  Thanks for coming by!

Farming & Technology

Our friend Jory Hunerdosse from Indianola, Iowa talks about how his world has changed when he received an iPad from his wife.

 

Technology and Farming...the times are changing...fast.

Meanwhile, it's trade show heaven for the nation's largest indoor farm show the National Farm Machinery Show based in Louisville, KY.  On one side we've got the technology and on the other folks still show up to kick tires.

If you would like to leave a comment here, feel free or join us on Twitter @RuralLilfeRadio.  Thanks for coming by.  

Rural Broadband - More Federal Money

If you follow Highway 6 you know we have, for years, been banging the drum about building the infrastructure to put more of Rural America on Broadband Internet.  Our view is that because Rural America, in many places, lacks connectivity it is at a severe economic disadvantage.

The Obama Administration and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack agree and so another $363 million is coming from the federal government to level the playing field.

This isn't about playing "Farmville" this is about the economy.  By providing 1.2 million rural households with broadband Secretary Vilsack says they will create 5,000 jobs.  That is not counting the thousands of people already making a rural living by engaging others through the Internet.

Traveling through Iowa on a three day mission of announcing the program former Iowa Governor Vilsack borrowed a line out of our play-book and said, “This is very similar to what happened in the 1930s and ’40s when we brought rural electrification to the countryside.  This is connecting folks to the 21st century."

Hey, as long as it gets done...you can quote us all day long.  On Twitter it's @MichaelLibbie or @RuralLifeRadio

Here is the story from our friends at the Des Moines Register.

 

 

 

Daily Kos - Welcome to the Conversation

For several years we've been lamenting about the disparity between rural and urban economies and how, we believe, a serious public effort that gets Broadband Internet to Rural America can help save our country.  So many folks in rural areas have to depend on outdated dial up Internet when the rest of the world is moving along at high speed.  We've said on the radio and in print that this effort is not unlike the Rural Electrification efforts of the 1930's and 1940's and the Interstate Transportation efforts of the 1950's.  It is that critical...

Our friends at the Daily Kos have picked up the call and done a much better job than we.  So...a TIP of the Hat to The Daily Kos...and if Rural Broadband is a passion of yours...please, please read and watch.

A shout out to The Main Street Project for letting us know!

Michael Libbie - Acreage Owner and Host.

Agriculture & Social Media

Over the past few years we've tried like crazy to get folks involved in agriculture to embrace social media.  We've had some great success with our advertising agency clients, Calcium Products and NatraTurf and limited success with several others.  But, most of the folks we talk with are not interested or see the value in putting social media tools in their marketing toolbox.

But, maybe this story might change some minds.

Last week on our daily business radio show, Insight on Business we featured Brent Pohlman the Director of Marketing & Business Development for Midwest Laboratories.  Midwest Labs has, for years, been involved in soil testing for farmers out of their Omaha location.   About a year ago Brent started using a Blog and then added Twitter @MidwestLabs and @BrentKPohlman and built his profile for LinkedIn and Facebook.  The result has been increased business opportunities and a better understanding of current and future client needs.

"We've been able to connect with our customer base and be seen as a help and not just always pushing a service", said Pohlman.  "We've experienced a much higher degree of understanding and many, many more qualified visits to our website."

And...Twitter has actually helped forecast an increase in business:

"Several weeks ago I noticed a number of Tweets about India testing for melamine in chocolate and in milk the country was importing from China.  I went back to our food research department and asked if we had seen any increase in the number of melamine tests.  He said we had not.  I suggested to him that he might be ready for a rush.  Sure enough about four days later we saw a 100% increase in requested tests for melamine."

So, how about you?  If you are in manufacturing, farming, niche farming, organics...what ever the business if you are looking to increase your visability....you might be ready to dive in and see what you might be able to accomplish by using social media in agriculture.  Give us a call...

You can keep up with us any number of ways:  On Twitter we're at @MichaelLibbie, @InsightADV or @RuralLifeRadio.  You can drop by our website, www.InsightCubed.com to learn more about what we do.

A quick shout out to our friends at Capital City Equipment Kubota dealers in Ames and Des Moines and to Iowa Water Solutions for water that is perfect...every day!

Reuniting With Twitter In Red Oak, Iowa

Last week my son and I traveled from Des Moines to Red Oak (pop 5,754) to do a seminar for the Western Iowa Tourism Region.  The region is large...very large...stretching from north of Sioux City to well south of Council Bluffs and from  Council Bluffs east to within 30 miles of Des Moines.  About 80 folks came to learn about social media and how it can help any business connect and get found.  We had a great time.  And, if you want to see the "business side" of the story head to our advertising agency site and have a read.  This post is more personal and it shows the value of social media.

This is Leah Guffey Banister, and her husband Sgt. Banister (who is currently in Iraq).   Leah lives and works in Springfield, Illinois for the convention and visitors bureau.  She too is a former Farm Broadcaster.

Leah and I "follow" each other on Twitter.  Me = @RuralLifeRadio and Leah = @Farmerspice.  When I posted a week ago that I was headed to Red Oak for this seminar she responded with a note that Red Oak was one of her favorite places and that she had so many fond memories about her grandparents, Jack "Buford" Guffey and Betty (Wigg) Guffey.(pictured) "They are buried in Nyman", she told me.  "But, I have two aunts still living there, Mary Guffey and Martha Guffey Heckert."

So, when doing the seminar last week I got on Twitter and asked for folks to shout back.  Up until now most of the people in the seminar saw, I believe, little to no value in Twitter.  Until Leah "came back" and offered a shout out and used her aunt's names, Mary Guffey, Elizabeth Guffey and Martha Guffey Heckert. 

Right away several people in the audience gasped.  "Oh my!  I know those people!", said one.  Another, "They come to the Red Coach Inn all the time for dinner!"

And, so the personal connection was made. And when Leah mentioned that her favorite house in Red Oak was on North 4th Street the people watching this projected conversation, who knew Red Oak, nodded in agreement.

The connection was made and Twitter honestly meant something.  No doubt we'll be seeing more from folks in Western Iowa as they work toward improving our Rural Economics by encouraging people to come and experience the beauty of Western Iowa.

See, it's all about the technology bringing about relationships...  When you think of it that way, it makes sense.  Oh, and another reason to call out for high speed broadband internet for Rural America...think of the possibilities.

Michael Libbie - Acreage Owner

 

Rural Broadband - The Free Market Issue

Welcome to Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country this nation's only full hour live radio talk show that deals with living on small farms, acreages or the tiny towns that dot our great land.  The show can be heard each Sunday morning at 8 but at 98.3 WOW-FM(983wowfm).. or by listening live when we stream the show to your computer.  In the meantime we continue to follow stories of interest for for folks living the rural lifestyle and we'll talk about them here.

The lack of rural broadband, according to study after study (Here is a link to the Kauffman Report see page 42) , is a major obstacle in the economic development of Rural America but...because there are so few voices "out here" we tend to get forgotten.  Just yesterday I was having a Twitter discussion (@RuralLifeRadio) with a new friend (@aaronwebb) who sent me this note:

"My wife and I are in the process of relocating to a rural setting. We have been wanting to move out of the city for some time and now seems to be the time where things are coming together. One thing I have experienced is lack of broadband. My business depends on it so it's a requirement for me.

Having said that, what are the big inhibitors to getting broadband coverage across the state? What is preventing this from becoming a good business opportunity? Seems like there must be some big barrier to entry...possibly a cost factor. Is it infrastructure that needs to be constructed? Seems like if it were a profitable business some enterprising fellow would have taken it on but that's just the free
market entrepreneur in me speaking."

The issue...is money.  I answered Aaron in the e-mail but thought you might like to learn what I said: 

The "free market" does not always work.  I know that sounds like blasphemy to those of us who take so much of what we have for granted.  Things like the Interstate Highway System a Government project of the 1950's or running electric wires to farms in the 1930's & 1940's.  Yet another government project.

You see, just like with rural broadband Internet, there wasn't much of a financial incentive to provide electrical service to Rural America because there was no way a company could pay for the capital outlay by selling service to two or three homes in a square mile of countryside.  The numbers just did not work.

That's why there is new hope with the 57 billion dollars the president has suggested go to improve things like rural broadband.  We believe, if done well, we will see Rural America surge in new economic adventures and think of the savings of fuel we'll see when workers no longer have to commute 30 miles "into town".  They can stay home or co-work in smaller towns.

So...what are your answers and...Aaron, thanks for the question!

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Michael Libbie - Acreage Owner & Host