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January St. Louis Agribusiness Club Lunch: Rural/Urban Divide

By: Jessica Hartman | 01/25/2012

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the January St. Louis Agribusiness Club lunch hosted by the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. An impressive crowd gathered to hear St. Louis radio and TV talent, Charlie Brennan, share his thoughts on an issue concerning many people working in agriculture: the rural/urban divide.

Charlie provided unique insight  on how Missouri might be able to remedy this division. His suggestion (in a very paraphrased format) is that city folk, along with those living in rural areas, need to unite behind ideas they believe in rather than focusing on the ones that create barriers between the groups.

For example, could expressing pride in our home states and what the state as a whole has to offer improve the dichotomy? Rather than focusing on the issues we disagree on (Prop. B in Missouri is a good example of the rural/urban split on an issue), let's get behind the ideas we do agree upon, for instance, promoting our states as tourist destinations.

I don't know about you, but that certainly sounds easier said than done to me.

Because Charlie's speech was so fascinating, we'd like to continue the conversation here, in the comments.  What do you think? Do you have any ideas on how we can bridge the gap between urbanites and those living in rural areas? Do you think the division exists? 

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