posted on Thursday, September 26, 2024 in AMVC Veterinarians in the News
Why all the fuss over community in rural America these days? For Jason Hocker, AMVC partner and veterinarian, it’s simple.
“I feel for the people that don't have what we do in our community. In our small town, if somebody needs help, there's somebody there to provide help," Hocker says.
He describes community as a support network where everyone looks out for one another. Hocker lives in Audubon, Iowa, which is about 75 miles from Des Moines, Iowa, and just over 75 miles to Omaha, Neb.
"In general, we just recognize that because of where we're at (to say we're in the middle of nowhere is fair), we have to forge our own path,” Hocker says. “We want to create an environment where we’ll be successful and attract people who also want to come and live here.”
He believes another big advantage of being in a small community is the opportunity to discover the value of interpersonal relationships.
“I tell my kids there are two worlds – the social media world and the real world,” Hocker says. “Do you want to work on your social media persona, where you can make up whatever you want? Or do you want to work on your character in the real world where people are actually going to see you and it will have an impact that is going to bring you long-term success?”
In a smaller community, you're forced to get out in the real world more, he says. But he’s quick to point out that even in large communities, you can still be part of a smaller community.
Regardless of the size of your community, he says it's about getting out there and taking advantage of those real-world opportunities to connect with people. The power of a thriving rural community is critical to the future success of agriculture.
Hocker says, “Rural communities help build those values and instill work ethic that brings people back to agriculture.”
Article Credit: Jennifer Shike, Farm Journal's PORK
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