When We Win: Stories From the Frontlines of Ecological Resistance - Barn Raiser
After decades of struggle, indigenous leaders and organizers have shown how to win against billionaires and large corporations.| Barn Raiser
Since October 1, the majority in Congress has decided to shut down the government rather than make a deal to pass a budget that extends affordable health care. Even as Congress has disrupted vital services, next month over 20 million Americans are on track to have their health care costs skyrocket and critical food assistance dry up. In the face of long-standing challenges and recent setbacks, rural people need hope—a practical vision for how things can get better. Released on Friday, Octob...| Barn Raiser
When voters were sold an “America-first” vision last November, many farm families believed that meant standing up for the people who put food on our tables and steward the land. But when news broke last week that the Trump administration plans to import a significant amount of beef from Argentina in an effort to lower prices at the grocery store, it sent shock waves through the farm and ranching community. A casual remark the president made from the doorway of Air Force One was confirmed ...| Barn Raiser
On a Saturday morning in September, my husband and I jump in our truck and drive to Castlewood, Virginia, in southwest Virginia’s Russell County, for the annual United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) cookout hosted by UMWA District 17. Southwest Virginia is the most Republican part of the state, and Russell County is deep in this net of macho identity politics, Christian culture, social media political engineering and the disparate ways political parties divest and invest in rural districts....| Barn Raiser
One of my pet peeves is getting solicited for campaign cash by a candidate for office—especially federal office—only to find out that said candidate’s website has no issues page. The art of legislating may be dead but anyone running to enact laws needs to be able to put forth some detailed policy priorities with specifics as to how they would accomplish these goals. Too often today, candidates insult voters by giving descriptions of the problems their would-be constituents are confronti...| Barn Raiser
In September, Jasmine Burke, a paramedic with the Highland Rescue Team Ambulance District in Colorado, responded to a 911 call for someone with suicidal thoughts. That is all that anyone can know about the case, she says, ultimately leaving the patient with back-up. But the call itself represents a growing trend in rural areas where behavioral health emergencies have strained the capacity of local emergency services. “We get calls like this all of the time with psychiatric emergencies, suic...| Barn Raiser
Remember Deborah “Renie” Gates, who ran for State Senator in Virginia? What about Brittany Gondolfi in Louisiana? Have you heard of Sandy Kerr in Mississippi? In 2023, these women ran as Democrats in rural, Republican-majority districts. None of them won, but each of them stood up to a right-wing establishment in an era when the Democratic National Committee (DNC) withholds resources from rural campaigns. This divestiture has left voter maps looking deceptively polarized: blue for big cit...| Barn Raiser
In March, the Trump administration pulled the rug on $1 billion in funds for the Local Food for Schools (LFS) and Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) programs. The two programs provided funding to schools and food pantries to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and meats from local farmers. For the farmers, schools, community organizations and tribal nations involved, the programs were a win-win situation. Small farmers earned reliable income through government contracts. Schools could provid...| Barn Raiser
After decades of struggle, indigenous leaders and organizers have shown how to win against billionaires and large corporations.| Barn Raiser
This is the fourth article in the six-part Barn Raiser series “Rethinking Immigration and Health on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” drawn from the author’s research for her book Landscapes of Care: Immigration and Health in Rural America. Adela had been waiting at the local clinic on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), since 4:00 p.m. for her 4:15 appointment. By the time the provider finally called her name, it was evening, and the Spanish interpreters ...| Barn Raiser
Farm Aid marked its milestone anniversary benefit concert as family farmers face the worst economic crisis in decades.| Barn Raiser
With the report’s neutered language around industrial farming practices, MAHA supporters—and critics—dig in for the battles ahead.| Barn Raiser
Connor Barnes brings his butchering craft straight to small-time livestock farmers via a custom-made box truck, a relief to many in a consolidated industry.| Barn Raiser
Iowa elected officials are preparing to trash 60% of the state’s historical archives with no transparency or input from the public.| Barn Raiser
Barn Raiser connects local and national perspectives through a network of writers and contributors who live in and care about rural and small town communities. By giving voice to shared concerns, and by reporting on local organizing strategies, Barn Raiser will leaven the commons with local connections.| Barn Raiser
We welcome and encourage accredited news organizations to republish our original articles. Unless otherwise noted, you can republish our articles under a BY-NC-ND 3.0 US Creative Commons license. (Here’s the legal code). Here’s what it comes down to: Attribution. You must give appropriate credit and provide a link to the original story. You may do […]| Barn Raiser
If Mr. Krugman was serious about having good ideas about rural America, he would get to know the people who live there.| Barn Raiser
Rural America is losing affordable housing at an alarming rate, fueling a growing housing crisis and surge of homeless residents.| Barn Raiser
