Niobrara Nebraska from nearby hill

Blog Posts & Stories

What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.

Desde su comunidad hasta su carrera, su familia y más allá, Brissa Borjas Esparza se esfuerza por retribuir y tratar a los demás con amabilidad y con un corazón abierto.
  • Small Towns
From her community to her career to her family and beyond, Brissa Borjas Esparza strives to give back and treat others with kindness and an open heart.
  • Small Towns
With the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law last November—a $1.3 trillion investment in our nation’s infrastructure—major funding is now available to rural communities.
  • Small Towns
  • Policy
Kayla Bergman, policy manager for the Center for Rural Affairs, joined members of the RE-AMP Network’s Agriculture Hub Project Team, in releasing a report focused on the nexus of climate change and agriculture in the Midwest.
  • Farm and Food
  • Policy
Desde dirigir un negocio como pasatiempos de pastelería hasta ser dueña de un exitoso café, Lynsi Steed está viviendo su mejor vida y amando ser su propia jefa.
  • Lending
From running a pastry hobby business to owning a successful coffee shop, Lynsi Steed is living her best life and loving being her own boss.
  • Lending
Large or small, all farms and ranches are important to our country’s agriculture sector. Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the Census of Agriculture.
  • Farm and Food
Grandes o pequeñas, todas las fincas y ranchos son importantes para el sector agrícola de nuestro país. Cada cinco años, el Servicio Nacional de Estadísticas Agrícolas (NASS) del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. realiza el Censo de Agricultura. El objetivo es obtener un recuento completo de las granjas y ranchos estadounidenses y las personas que los operan.
  • Farm and Food
More than half of the farmland in the U.S. is owned or co-owned by women. In Nebraska, women own or co-own 42% of farmland.
  • Farm and Food
We’re two weeks past the 100-day mark, and there is no clear end to the legislative session in sight. Last week, the House and Senate conducted limited business, wrapping up their work on Tuesday afternoon. Lawmakers’ most significant remaining responsibility is passing a budget, which they must do before the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
  • Policy
When Alexandra Henry moved to Nebraska from her home state of Colorado, she was disappointed in the quality of rental properties available...
  • Small Towns
A mechanic and used car dealer just bought their business building thanks to a loan from the Center for Rural Affairs. This business owner, a new immigrant, has worked for years out of the building he purchased, providing an essential service to his adopted community and earning an income for his family.
  • Lending
A recent bipartisan survey of 501 Nebraska voters, conducted by New Bridge Strategy, revealed that 97% of participants, both rural and urban, support voluntary conservation and the benefits it provides, specifically conserving working farms and ranches.
  • Farm and Food
The Center for Rural Affairs recently shared program funding recommendations with members of Congress as part of the annual appropriations process. Federal legislators consider these recommendations as they allocate discretionary dollars to a variety of programs, including those that support rural communities.
  • Farm and Food
  • Lending
  • Small Towns
Summer nights around a campfire under the stars, the taste of homemade pancakes in the morning, and the smell of pine trees along the trail while walking with new friends to the biggest zipline imaginable—the folks at Rabble Mill believe every young person deserves to experience these things, and more.
  • Small Towns
Farm to School continues to grow in Nebraska. In 2021, the state Legislature approved the Adopt the Farm-to-School Program Act to reserve state funding to make new and existing farm to school projects a priority for the Nebraska Department of Education. These new programs include assisting nutrition directors with local food procurement and enhancing the agriculture education of students.
  • Farm and Food
El 20 de abril finalizó la segunda sesión de la Legislatura 107 del Estado de Nebraska. El Centro jugó un papel decisivo en la aprobación de tres proyectos de ley este año y ayudó a abogar por muchos temas que preocupan a las comunidades rurales.
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
  • Policy
On April 20, the second session of the 107th Legislature of the State of Nebraska came to a close. The Center was instrumental in passing three bills this year and helped advocate for many issues that rural communities care about.
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
  • Policy
Registration is open for the Empowerment for Latina Women in Business Conference, set for May 3 in South Sioux City.
  • Lending
Anna Zeleny knew she’d be stepping outside of her comfort zone when she traveled to Lincoln to testify before the Nebraska Legislature’s Agriculture Committee last year. But she put her nerves aside because it was important for lawmakers to hear her story.
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
  • Policy