Illinois
COMMENTRY

Improving rural communities for everyone

Many people still think that rural simply means where farmers live. When I think of a rural area I think of the entire community, both the farms and small towns in the area. To improve the quality of life in rural Illinois we must work together as communities. That is exactly what those of us working for the USDA's Rural Development program try to do. We want everyone in rural areas — including farmers, small town entrepreneurs, bankers, home owners and other community leaders — to understand that bringing rural water systems, rural fire protection and other economic development efforts benefits the entire rural community.

Sheldon Keyser

Joe Voss, dairyman from Clinton County, and Randy Scheetz, hog farmer from Hancock County, Illinois would be the first to defend USDA's Rural Development programs and how important they are to farmers. Rural Development's rural water program has made a major difference in their farming operations. "Farm animals need good water just as much as humans. You can't farm without a dependable source of good water for your family and livestock," said Voss, who is president of a rural water company in Clinton County. Voss is also vice president of Clinton County Electric Cooperative's board of directors.

Testing wells shows that many wells serving homes and farms are contaminated. Hauling water for the family and livestock or bringing drinking water from town is a familiar sight in much of rural Illinois. It doesn't have to be that way. Thanks to Rural Development's water and sewer financing programs, rural water systems are becoming as commonplace as rural electricity in many parts of the state.

On a daily basis Rural Development works with community leaders, engineers, architects, bankers, builders, realtors, business owners and home buyers. Many lose sight of the fact that Rural Development's programs also benefit farmers. These programs serve everyone in rural areas.

During the 10-year period from 1982 to 1992 the number of farms declined in Illinois from 98,483 to 77,610. Illinois was second only to Mississippi in loss of farms during that period. Things have stabilized since, but Illinois continues to lose farmers. What is USDA Rural Development doing to make things better down on the farm? Wally Furrow, state director of Rural Development in Illinois and a lifelong farmer, believes it is important that the agency serves agriculture and continues building better relationships with farming interests.

Ninety percent of all farmers rely on some supplemental income. Rural Development promotes job creation by supporting business development in rural communities, and by ensuring that adequate financing is available to those businesses. Rural Development also has a cooperative assistance program which allows farmers to work together to reduce costs, obtain services otherwise unavailable and achieve greater returns for their products.

Rural fire protection, improved educational opportunities and better health care are critical to agriculture. No rural area can thrive without these kinds of services. Rural Development's Community Facility, and its Telemedicine and Distance Learning programs, support critical infrastructure development. For example, Fairfield Memorial Hospital in rural Wayne County is improving medical care to area farmers with a major expansion financed through Rural Development. The hospital serves a rural regional population of 35,000 including Fairfield's population of 5,439. Rural Development assisted with a direct loan, a guaranteed loan and a grant. The hospital is adding a 14,000 square-foot surgical center, new outpatient facilities, enlarging the

Sheldon Keyser is responsible for coordination of USDA's Rural Development programs for the state of Illinois. The agency provided $154 million in financial assistance last year. He works out of the state office in Champaign, (217) 398-5412.

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emergency room and renovating the upper three floors of the hospital.

What happens to farmers when they retire? Often they move to a nearby rural town, buy a home, or rent an apartment originally built through one of Rural Development's housing programs. For 39 years the agency has been providing affordable housing to farmers and rural residents through both direct and guaranteed home loans and for apartments. Home improvement loans and grants have been successful in removing health and safety hazards from existing homes and in making those homes accessible to people with disabilities.

As farmers grow older they may find it necessary to move to assisted living or nursing home care facilities. Staying close to family and friends is important. Rural Development's programs enable rural communities to offer amenities such as adult day care, assisted living, nursing care, visiting nurses, medical facilities, and senior citizen centers.

Farmers and rural residents of all ages benefit from facilities like libraries, community buildings, museums, roads, sidewalks and parking facilities, which also can be financed through Rural Development. Agriculture and rural communities are dependent on each other and must support each other. Working to make strong rural communities can only make things better for farmers.

6 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • APRIL 1998