Just how difficult would it be to identify a rural community? Aw, come on, that is easy. On the other hand, is it? A recent Google search of rural community definition provided me with 2,080,000 results. In a way, this did not surprise me. I did not search too deep into the omnipotent internet.

Most everyone embraces his or her own notion of a rural community and strangely believes everybody else agrees with them. Government, corporations, lawmakers, journalist, advertisers, churches, Hollywood and a litany of others all have their notion of rural community. With whom should we agree or disagree? Actually, I believe it might be more important to first attempt an understanding of the concept.

When the first settlers came to the vast, treeless prairie, community was non-existent. They created communities. The pioneers looked forward to newcomers and were excited about what they would bring to help build the community. There is also reference to being “glad for the opportunity to be of service in community development ...”

I find the key words in the previous statement are to be of service. It was not large sums of cash that shaped our communities – it was the people, and their generosity of time, talent and heart. It was small groups of people, making sacrifices, nurturing relationships with neighbors, and coming together to build a school, a church or to secure a post office.

It was the laughter, tears, pain and pleasure of life on the wind-swept prairie. Understanding that the Earth would yield what was necessary to sustain life and secure a future. Knowing at some point, they would have to “let go” of what had been “theirs” for a brief time. They were well aware that they would leave everything behind, but, on the other hand, made sure nothing was lost forever, for those yet to come.

Looking back, they could easily define community, because they built one, literally, from the ground, up. We must aspire to do the same. Now, our communities are ours to build in our time.

Reprinted with permission by author Tom Giessel, who writes for The Hutchinson News, Kansas AgLand Website Ag Blogs. Tom farms near Larned, Kansas, in Pawnee County and is a board member of the Ogallala Commons group and former board member of the Kansas Farmers Union. In 2006, he was honored with the National Catholic Rural Life Conference Saint Isidore and Maria Award. Look for Tom's posts at www.kansasagland.com.