People to Know

Ron “Stray Dog” Hall defies stereotypes in this slice-of-life documentary about a Vietnam veteran in rural Missouri created by Debra Granik, director of Winter’s Bone. It’s a quiet film of a compassionate warrior…

From her home in the “MOzark” Mountains, Rachel Reynolds Luster invests a lot in her community as a librarian, folklorist, co-op organizer, and musician. In return, the community has invested a lot in her, she says.

Native Nebraskan Tyler Vacha used to commute from Des Moines, Iowa to Lyons, Nebraska, where he works for the Center for Rural Affairs. Then Vacha and his wife decided to move to Lyons, which is just 40 minutes from the town where he grew…

In rural America, we can’t afford to leave anyone on the bench. Everyone gets to play – even the old guy who misjudges the talent.

In a state where basketball is a religion, a small, mountain school is accused of heresy – disturbing the hierarchy of Kentucky high school sports. Fined, sanctioned and harassed for its transfer students – many of whom are…

Rural youth from across the country meet at the Rural Caucus in Washington, D.C. this weekend to share stories, support and culinary metaphors.